BY DAVE LINK
Bearden headlines any number of teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area in the hunt for deep postseason runs and even state championships in girls’ soccer this fall.
It starts with regular-season games on Monday (Aug. 18) and culminates with state championship tournaments in late October.
Last year, the Lady Bulldogs (20-2-1) came within a victory – actually, within a goal – of winning their fourth straight state title in Class AAA, losing to Germantown Houston 4-2 on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation time and overtimes.
And Bearden’s loss was tougher with how it lost. Especially for the 13 seniors.
Bearden goalkeeper Drew Tolley, a 2025 graduate and Sam Houston (Texas) State signee, appeared to block a shot at a crucial stage of the PK shootout, but Houston’s Hallie McBride was given a second chance at her PK because an official ruled a penalty on Tolley for stepping over a line in front of the goal.
McBride made the PK the second time, giving the Lady Mustangs a 4-2 shootout lead instead of a 3-2 lead with Bearden getting a chance to tie the shootout in the fourth round.
“Next July and August will be here before you know it,” Bearden coach Ryan Radcliffe said after the game, “and I’m hopeful that the junior class that will be rising seniors will carry this on.”
Well, it’s time to carry on, and Bearden has plenty of motivation.
They aren’t alone. Plenty of teams are capable of deep postseason runs.
Here’s a look at some teams (alphabetical order) and players to watch in the 5Star Preps coverage area:
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