Bearden girls soccer falls just short of a fourth straight state title

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WATE) — Bearden girls soccer has set the standard of high school soccer over the last few years. This year marked their fourth trip to the Division I 3A State Title game, however dropping in penalty kicks would keep them from winning their fourth consecutive state title.

It was Houston who struck first, the Mustangs scoring in the sixth minute from Isabella Drotar, assisted by Ellett Smith for Houston to take a 1-0 lead.

However the Lady Bulldogs found a way to tie it up when Halle Bibee beat the keeper in the 25th minute, evening up the score.

The game remained tied through double overtime, landing the two teams in a shootout for the title.

Two blocked attempts within the first four kicks for Bearden, combined with four made for Houston sealed the deal for the Mustangs victory. Houston going 4-2 in the shootout to ultimately take the win, 2-1 over Bearden.

For the Lady Bulldogs, their seniors may not be walking away with a state title, but they will leave their time at Bearden having made an undeniable mark on the past, present and future of Lady Bulldog soccer, “Every senior class that we have keeps holding the standard as high as it is and as high as it can and just speaks to the belief that they have and the love that they have just being apart of the program and I think that’s awesome to see as a coach,” said head coach Ryan Radcliffe. “I mean you always say and talk about, you don’t chase games and seasons for the rewards and the trophies you chase it for the memories and you know the journey to get there and I hope that’s what they can take once the hard part of this kind of gets past them.”

Bearden girls soccer finishes their season 20-2-1.

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