Shutout streak grows as 20-0-1 BHS girls seek soccer state title
BEARDEN — When you score more goals in one playoff game — actually it was about 3/4 of a game — than you’ve given up the entire season (21 games), that’s a compliment to the scoring and defensive prowess of Bearden girls soccer.
Pitching its school-record 17th shutout of the season — having allowed just seven goals in the other four games — the Lady SoccerDawgs stayed unbeaten (20-0-1) and earned yet another trip to this week’s Class AAA state tourney in Chattanooga following a 9-0 drubbing of Jefferson County, District 2-AAA champs no less, at BHS’s Turner-Allender Field Saturday afternoon, Oct. 23.
The game was called — due to the nine-goal differential — with 22:25 left in the second half after Bearden junior Alyssa Ella’s header goal, assisted by SK Bailey.
“We were really excited for this game, we knew there was a lot of pressure on it,” said junior forward Brinley Murphy, who scored three goals.
As for teamwork, “I think the best thing is we do it for each other,” she added.
Other goals scored were two from Becca Roth and one each from Jordan Hellman, Alivia Scott and Alayna Corbitt. Roth also added assists on the game’s first three goals, with Harlie Howard, Breana Mendoza, Corbitt and Bailey also assisting.
These Lady SoccerDawgs also are on pace to set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season (current record is 12).
Radcliffe said junior goalkeeper Peyton Huber “was talking early in the year that that was one of her goals, was to break the shutout record (was 16) and least goals conceded.
“When you’ve got a keeper that takes pride in that, I guess it translates and kind of sinks into the rest of the back line,” he added about seniors Howard, Corbitt and Marlee Biggs, along with junior Mary Beth Sheringham and sophomore Nyla Blue.
“We take so much pride in that,” Biggs said. “... And we also want to set the other record of least goals allowed (in a) season.
“It’s the exact same back line as last year,”
