Mount Airy dropped a second-round playoff match to Bradford Prep on May 16.
The Bradford Bears scored first, but the Mount Airy Granite Bears countered with a goal less than 60 seconds later. Mount Airy’s goal would be its last of the season as Bradford added three more scores to secure the 4-1 win.
Paola Ramirez scored Mount Airy’s only goal, and she was assisted by Kate Deaton, which was a common sight for the team this season. The two seniors combined for 70 of Mount Airy’s 111 goals and 28 of 61 assists.
Bradford Prep entered Thursday’s matchup with a deceptive 6-9 overall record. The Bradford Bears are part of the Catawba Shores 1A/2A Conference, which had four of the top five teams reach the at least the third round of the playoffs. This includes Pine Lake Prep, the No. 1 seed in the 2A West, and Mountain Island Charter, the No. 1 seed in the 1A West.
Bradford broke the match open by striking in the seventh minute, but it wasn’t long before the Deaton-Ramriez connection evened things up at one goal apiece. Bradford used its speed to create runs that led to a trio of shots over the next seven minutes, then a long shot from the visitors made it 2-1 in the 15th minute.
Mount Airy attacked the sidelines through Deaton, Ramirez, Lily Morris and Laura Livengood. This led to some deep throw ins following Bradford’s second goal, but the Granite Bears struggled to penetrate the visitors’ back line.
Bradford continued to fire shot-after-shot at Mount Airy’s goal, but couldn’t bypass keeper Lacey Taylor until scoring again in the 26th minute.
Mount Airy found new life late in the half and put a few threatening runs together.
A shot from Bradford was saved in the 32nd minute. Taylor quickly punted to the midfield, and the Bears turned that into a Ramirez breakaway. The senior set a shot up with her left foot that sailed wide of the mark. Two minutes later Deaton sent a big through ball to Sabrina Brown that was intercepted by the Bradford keeper.
Mount Airy followed up by keeping pressure on the Bradford back line for a few minutes, but it wasn’t long before Bradford scored its final goal. The visitors used a big through ball to catch Mount Airy’s defense off guard, but Carley Hill made a sliding stop on the back line. Bradford stayed on the ball and fired a shot that was deflected out for a corner kick. There were only 13 seconds remaining in the half when Bradford kicked the corner, then only four seconds remained when the ball sailed into the back of the net.
Mount Airy came out of halftime with another offensive flurry, even earning a corner kick two minutes in. Deaton’s corner led to a Ramirez shot that was saved, then Deaton took another corner four minutes later.
Shortly after the corners, quick passes between Morris, Deaton and Ramirez helped the Granite Bears advance up the home sideline. Mount Airy briefly penetrated the 18-yard box, but a clearance prevented any further damage.
Mount Airy limited Bradford to just seven second-half shots on target after the visitors took 15 in the first half. The home team’s defense held the visitors scoreless in the half, but Mount Airy couldn’t find the back of the net to cut into the lead.
Bradford Prep advanced to the Sweet 16 with the win, then dropped its third-round playoff game 3-2 to No. 3 Uwharrie Charter (16-5).
Leaving their mark on history
This year’s Mount Airy squad was led by six seniors: Deaton, Ramirez, Livengood, Morris, Aubrey Wilmoth and Kinlee Reece.
The Granite Bears’ seniors set a school-record for career wins. The group racked up 59 wins, 17 losses and eight ties during their four years. This included a COVID-shortened year in which Mount Airy only played 13 total matches.
Following a 5-7-1 freshman year, Mount Airy won its first-ever conference title in 2022. That year’s team finished 17-3-4.
The Granite Bears returned the following year and set numerous school records, including wins in a season and deepest playoff run. Mount Airy, which finished 22-1-1, advanced to the 1A West Regional Semifinals before falling to the eventual state champs.
This year’s team won its third-straight conference title and finished with a 15-6-2 overall record.
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