CHATTANOOGA -- Greeneville High School made a big impact upon its arrival at the TSSAA State Soccer Tournament, shutting out previously unbeaten Page 2-0 in the opening round here Wednesday.

The Lady Devils, with a first half goal from Becca Willett and a second half strike from Taylor Leng, powered their way into the state semifinals, but it was the defense that really shined.

Page, who entered the match 21-0 and averaged a half dozen goals a game this season, had almost every look at goal turned away by Greeneville's back line of Bree Wilhoit, Katey Anderson, Sophie Lively and Brooke Miller.

If the Lady Patriots did get off a shot, Greeneville keeper Alyssa Crum was unbeatable, making 13 saves to notch the shutout.

"The defense did an excellent job," said Greeneville coach John Eiskamp. "Anderson, Lively, Wilhoit, Miller and then Crum in goal, she came up huge."

The key was keeping the Lady Patriots from doing what they've been accustomed to all year. In running through their season unbeaten, Page got 41 goals from Kate Maguigan and 38 from Kelsey Wilkes. The Lady Patriots' plan of action was to get the ball to their big attackers and let them do the rest.

Greeneville was having none of that. Marie Scott and Willett in the midfield did a good job of taking possession away from Page, but if Maguigan or Wilkes got through, Wilhoit and Anderson never let them get a clear turn toward goal.

"I think we kind of took them out of their comfort zone," Eiskamp said. "The girls came off at halftime and told me they were kind of arguing among themselves out there. When you get that out on the field, you know you've done something to frustrate your opponent."

Wilhoit, who plays sweeper and is one of the team captains, said Greeneville wasn't intimidated by Page's record. The Lady Devils had a good game plan, and they used it to get the win.

"It shows we can get it done," she said. "We adjust to different players, and our coaches do a good job of telling us what they are going to be like, and we just adjusted to them."

Page had to adjust to playing from behind. After a heated start where the Lady Devils played somewhat of a survival game, Greeneville turned up the pressure.

The Lady Devils were unlucky not to score in the sixth minute following a great cross from the left side by Scott where no one crashed the back post and could have scored on an empty net.

Willett, who did a nice job all match long of attacking and dropping back to defend, scored what held up to be the winner in the 23rd minute. Allison McKee released Willett down the left wing. When she got within range, Willett looked up to see Page keeper Katie Wright off the line and chipped the ball over her head and into the upper right corner of the goal.

Caroline Lodge and Leng both came close for the Lady Devils before the end of the first half, but Wright was steady for the Lady Patriots to keep the score at 1-0 heading into the break.

The entire second half went back and forth. Kaitlyn Horner had a good look at goal for the Lady Devils. Leng and Lodge continued to press for another goal. Willett thought she had a second of her own off a corner kick but it was disallowed. Greeneville's defense kept up its solid effort.

As good as Greeneville's defense was the entire 80 minutes, it couldn't have been better in the 71st. Page threw everything it had into the box on a corner kick desperately trying to level the match. Wilhoit came up big at first, clearing the ball off the line. The Lady Patriots got another crack at goal off the rebound, and Crum came flying through to punch the ball out of danger. On Page's third shot in the flurry, Anderson finally got the ball out of danger.

Four minutes later, Leng put the game away, taking a feed from Scott before unloading on a low, driven shot into bottom left corner to put Greeneville up 2-0 and into the state semifinals.

"We were able to get that one goal to give us an energy boost," Eiskamp said. "We were a little nervous it being the first time down here, the first game of the tournament. The girls were nervous. In the second half it got a little sloppy, but then to get that second goal was pretty much the deciding factor."

The Lady Devils play today at 4:30 p.m. in the first semifinal against Notre Dame, who shut out Dyersburg 6-0 on Wednesday. The winner advances to Saturday's state championship match at noon.

* This might be the Lady Devils' first ever trip to the state soccer tournament, but the state record book is littered with achievements by Greeneville soccer.

Greeneville is second in state history in most goals scored in a single game when the Lady Devils scored 22 against Cocke County on Sept. 23, 2004.

Former Lady Devil star Erica Lashomb, who played from 1996-98, still ranks first all time in goals per game average with 2.55.

Lashomb is sixth all time in career goals with 120 despite playing only three seasons. The five ranked above her all had four-year careers.

Lashomb is third all time in most goals in a single season with 48.

Greeneville's Michelle Meade and Lashomb are tied for second all time for goals in a single game with six, according to the TSSAA record book.

* After Greeneville's win over Page, the Lady Devils celebrated by singing Happy Birthday to Sophie Lively.

* A sizable group of local supporters were here at the state tournament. Perhaps 50 were in the stands to cheer on the Lady Devils.

*In other Class A/AA games Wednesday, Christ Presbyterian Academy shut out Chattanooga Christian 2-0, and CAK defeated Madison 5-1. CPA plays CAK in the other semifinal today.

In Class AAA state action, Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett edged Brentwood 4-3, Houston topped Riverdale 4-3, Oak Ridge shut out Siegel 2-0, and Franklin blanked Collierville 3-0.