BHS boys soccer again 2nd at state
MURFREESBORO — For the second straight season in a Class AAA boys soccer state championship game, Bearden came out and dominated.
That was evident by the SoccerDogs earning six corner kicks and two free kicks within 30 yards of the Brentwood goal — all in the match’s first 10 minutes in Richard Siegel Soccer Complex Friday afternoon, May 27.
But for the second straight season, Bearden was runner-up — and unlike last season’s 2-1 loss to Houston, the SoccerDogs (21-2-3) never led against the Bruins (22-2-1).
In fact, the match’s last 69 minutes saw Brentwood convert three scoring chances, shocking Bearden with a 3-0 halftime lead that ended 4-1.
“The first 15 minutes I was expecting us to put a goal in,” SoccerDogs head coach Ryan Radcliffe said. “I thought we came out and were executing things we talked about pre-game. ... Had some good chances to take the lead” early.
Despite the score, the SoccerDogs outshot the Bruins 12-11 for the game.
But “a simple error there on the first (Brentwood) goal kind of knocked us in the face. ... Too many mental errors at the wrong times,” Radcliffe said.
Junior Ethan Ford scored Bearden’s goal from about eight yards out with 1:27 left.
Losing 13 seniors, “I’m proud of the boys and the season we had,” the Bearden coach said.
