Dawgs first to beat Hendersonville
KNOXVILLE — Bearden High School boys soccer head coach Ryan Radcliffe has been looking for his team to assemble a breakthrough performance.
He saw the Bulldogs do just that Friday night, April 5.
“I’ve been waiting for our guys to grow into a team from one that has a lot of individual talent, to one that puts it all together and plays as a team,” Radcliffe said after the Bulldogs notched a 4-1 victory over previously undefeated Hendersonville in the Bearden Invitational at Turner-Allender Field. “We needed to grow, and tonight we took a major step forward in our growth process.”
It was the Commandos (9-1) who scored first, converting in the 15th minute.
But that marker proved to be the wakeup call the Bulldogs (8-1) needed. From there, BHS would not only take control of the match, but would prevail in dominating fashion.
Collin Lewis, a senior midfielder, evened the game when he converted a penalty kick in the 18th minute.
Carter Turner, a junior, would give the Bulldogs the lead when he scored on a header in the 25th minute. That goal was assisted by senior Tanner Whited.
Bearden would extend its edge to 3-1 at halftime on a goal by senior Jonathan Meystrik late in the opening 40 minutes. Everett Hauser, yet another senior, picked up an assist in the 37th minute.
Goalkeepers Jonathan Diaz, a sophomore, and Holden Giesecke, a junior, combined to help keep Hendersonville’s offense in check.
Lewis tallied off an assist from Turner in the 68th minute.
“We got a great result tonight in one of our toughest games of the year,” Lewis said. “... Carter Turner really stepped up tonight.”
