If avoiding big mistakes, Bearden could go ‘all the way’ in 2020
In order to keep that streak intact, head coach Ryan Radcliffe said the Lady Bulldogs can’t beat themselves.
“We have talent and we have depth in the middle and up top, but we have to limit our mistakes and we have to limit what we do to ourselves,” he said. “We just can’t beat ourselves.”
Aiming much higher than district, “If we can avoid those types of mistakes, this team has the possibility of going all the way,” Radcliffe added.
Bearden has a bevy of talent back from last year’s team that went 17-4-1 and made it to the sectional round of the state playoffs.
Top returners include: Brinley Murphy (sophomore, forward); Zneyah McLaughlin (senior, forward); Janie Lewis (senior, midfielder); Becca Roth (sophomore, midfielder); Kailyn Scott (junior, midfielder); Harlie Howard (junior, defender); Alayna Corbitt (junior, defender); Peyton Huber (a sophomore goalkeeper who missed the entire 2019 campaign due to a non-soccer injury); Kenslie Myers (junior, forward); Andrea Adkins (junior, forward); Anna Beichler (senior, forward); Sara Atshuler (junior, midfielder); Gabby Wilkerson (sophomore, forward) and Jordan Hellman (junior, forward/midfielder/defender).
Key Bearden newcomers include: Rylie Lucas (freshman, midfielder); Alivia Stott (freshman, defender) and Marlee Biggs (junior, defender).
Radcliffe admits the Lady Bulldogs would possibly have to get past some new opponents. Those adversaries may not just be opposing teams.
“This year, I think the team that will be the last one standing will be the one who will be able to battle through adversity, and the team that can navigate through this whole (COVID-19) thing,” said Radcliffe, who begins his seventh season as the BHS head coach.
“Things are going to be a little different and a little strange,” he added.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams were limited to conditioning and non-contact drills until Aug. 3.
The season will begin as scheduled for Bearden when it hosts Powell Tuesday, Aug. 18, at BHS’s Turner-Allender Field.
“The girls missed their club season and we didn’t get a chance to scrimmage and that’s something that you can’t really simulate in practice,” he said. “I have players who haven’t played a game in five or six months, and you always play with a different intensity when you play against another team.”
But Radcliffe admits the layoff wasn’t all bad.
“This has been the longest summer workout period that we’ve ever had,” he said. “Usually, our preseason is only about two weeks because our girls are playing club, playing out in California.
“This year we’ve been working together since June,” the coach added.
