By JOSHUA SNEAD / For the Reporter

INDIAN SPRINGS – With a 1-0 victory Friday night over Bayside Academy, Indian Springs advances to the Class 1A-4A Final Four at Huntsville’s John Hunt Park for the fourth year in a row.

It’s all thanks to senior midfielder Adam Trodd, who provided the match’s only goal 22 minutes into play.

“He’s scored big goals for us all year,” Indian Springs head coach Rik Tozzi said.

“He scored both goals to get us in the Final Four last year.”

Indian Springs set-up just outside the 18-yard mark for a free kick to be taken by Ben Guion. He slipped the ball inside to Trodd, who put it in the right corner of the net past the Bayside keeper.

“It was a free kick play we run a lot in practice, but this was the first time it worked in a game,” Tozzi said.

Springs managed to hold off the Bayside attack early with goalkeeper Freddie Delchamps recording two saves within the first six minutes of play.

Defender Colby Marks stepped in front of an empty net just in time to deflect a shot from Bayside’s John David Hammond.

This proved to be the eye opener for Springs as its goal came just minutes later.

“We were nervous the first 15 minutes, and it showed. We were letting them control the game,” Tozzi said.

With 40 seconds left in the first half, Indian Springs missed a chance at a 2-0 lead when Guion could not convert on a penalty kick.

Springs stayed aggressive in the second half with junior Taylor Hogan and Trodd just off the mark on several shot attempts.

Bayside made several strong runs towards the end of the match and missed an opportunity to tie the game on a free kick with only seven minutes remaining.

Tozzi said his concern for this weekend’s Final Four appearance is conditioning.

“Our legs gave out at the end, which disappoints me, so we’ll be running a lot starting tomorrow,” he said

Tozzi and his veteran team of 10 seniors seem optimistic about bringing Indian Springs its first boys’ soccer state title.

“We’ve really picked up toward the end of season.We’ve got a lot of momentum going in,” Trodd said.

Springs faces off against No. 16 Houston Academy on Friday in the 1A-4A Final Four at 11:15 a.m.

Houston knocked off top-ranked Altamont, 1-0, Saturday to reach the semifinal.

The 1A-4A championship will be played Saturday at 11 a.m. against either East Limestone or Randolph