Lucas Nordin (20) and the Bearden Bulldogs faced the Oakland Patriots in a TSSAA Class AAA state tournament semifinal at Richard Seigel Soccer Complex on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO – Bearden’s boys are back in the Class AAA state soccer championship.
After losing in last year’s final, the Bulldogs completed their return journey Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over Murfreesboro Oakland in the state semifinals at the Siegel Soccer Complex.
And Bearden’s seniors don’t want to leave with another loss.
“It was so sad, especially watching the seniors all break down after the game,” senior defender Cody Coover said. “It was just eye-opening, but it just makes you feel more comfortable with a state championship the next year.”
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Bearden will play Brentwood on Friday at 4 p.m. CT for its fourth state title on the complex’s stadium field. The Bruins defeated Collierville 3-2 in Wednesday night’s other semifinal match.
“It’s incredible,” Coover said. “It feels so good. Coming back after last year, we’re just a better team. I’m pumped up for it.”
Bearden has been to the state championship match eight times and won five titles, most recently in 2019.
Oakland (19-3-2) knocked off defending state champion Houston 1-0 in Tuesday night’s storm-delayed quarterfinal match. The Patriots have reached the state tournament five times and never been to the final.
Bearden denied it again Wednesday night.
“They’re an unfamiliar face to us,” Bearden coach Ryan Radcliffe said of Oakland, “but I guess they’re not a new face to the state tournament. We knew they’re a team that it’s going to take a lot to break them down, but when you’ve got 20 (Lucas Nordin) on the field it makes things a little easier to break teams down.”
Nordin, a junior forward, had two goals Wednesday night, pushing his season total to 38 goals. He scored three goals in Tuesday’s 4-1 quarterfinal victory over Franklin and set Bearden’s single-season record for goals.
“Oh, he’s a scary man,” Coover said of Nordin. “He’s so talented I would not want to defend that man.”
Oakland got a steady dose of Nordin, who had two goals and almost made a couple more.
Nordin’s first goal was unassisted and came in the 31st minute when he drove a shot from long distance over the head of goalkeeper Will Palmer.
He scored again 3 minutes later off an assist by Hamid Djouadi.
Junior Ethan Ford gave Bearden a 3-0 lead in the 56th minute.
Oakland avoided the shutout when Sammy Magana scored in the 63rd minute.
When Bearden finished its game, Collierville and Brentwood were tied at 2-all late in their game.
“That’s a really big battle over there,” Radcliffe said. “I think Collierville and Brentwood are top-notch teams. We’re going to have to rest and it’s not going to come easy for us on Friday, I can guarantee you that.
“We know both teams are physical. Both teams have people that can score. Obviously, it’s going to be a big field on Friday, so we’re going to have to be able to rest and get as ready as we can and start planning for whomever we’re going to play. But it’s going to be a tough one.”
Radcliffe will give his everyday players a day off for rest Thursday while letting the backups get out of the hotel.
“Get the boys off their feet,” Radcliffe said. “Get the young ones out of the hotel to try to have a different balancing act of getting the ones who are going stir crazy after days in the hotel out and meanwhile getting the ones that need a lot of rest, a lot of rest. Maybe some movies, eating some good food, and taking a lot of naps is what I’d like to see.”
Radcliffe isn’t as concerned as redemption from last year as his players.
“It’s more the boys are motivated,” he said. “I love being out here and having this experience. It’s the culmination of a tough and hard-working season that you get to go play one last game. The message is that there’s only two teams remaining and nobody’s playing after Friday, so enjoy it and make some memories out of it and go out there and give it your all to try to win the thing.”
HIGHLANDERS ADVANCE, 2-0
The Gatlinburg-Pittman Highlanders faced Merrol Hyde in a TSSAA Class A state tournament semifinal at Richard Seigel Soccer Complex on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Gatlinburg-Pittman won 2-0. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Gatlinburg-Pittman advanced to its fourth consecutive Class A state championship with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Merrol Hyde of Hendersonville.
The Highlanders (15-6-2) won the state title in 2018 and were state runners-up in 2019 and 2021.
“It’s two straight senior classes that have played in every state championship game,” G-P coach Zach Schrandt said. “Obviously 2020 we didn’t have it (because of COVID), but I’m pretty confident we would have played in it.
“We have injuries. Carlos Turcios didn’t play today. He was nicked up today. If you’d told me with all these kids out we’d be playing for the state title, it shows you it’s not coaching. It’s the kids are just competing.”
The Highlanders will play Madison Magnet on Friday at 11 a.m. CT for the state championship.
Madison Magnet (19-2) beat STEM Prep Academy 2-0 in their semifinal Wednesday.
“I know Madison Magnet played a heck of a game against Alcoa,” Schrandt said, referring to the 3-2 quarterfinal win over Alcoa. “We kind of know how they play. They have a good amount of talent, attacking talent, and we have a pretty darn good team too and we’ve played in a bunch of state finals. Win, lose, or draw, at the end of the day, I’m just proud because we’re so young. Whatever happens, we’re all going to be happy at the end of the day.”
G-P and Merrol Hyde were locked in a scoreless tie at halftime.
The Highlanders had 13 shots in the first half and finished with 21. Merrol Hyde had three shots at halftime and seven overall.
“We had a lot of shots in the first half,” Schrandt said. “We just couldn’t score. We just finished the chances we had in the second half.”
Schrandt made a tactical switch before G-P scored its two goals, and it seemed to pay off.
Oscar Turcios gave G-P a 1-0 lead on a header in the 55th minute off a pass by Moises Betanco-Ramirez.
Erick Macia-Chavez scored in the 63rd minute for a 2-0 lead.
“Beautiful header, beautiful ball, beautiful serve from Moises,” Schrandt said. “He’s normally playing in the back, but we pushed him out as a winger to a 3-5-2 (formation). We just needed more of a presence up front. Turcios has been kind of quiet all year. I told him it’s time to flip that switch. I’m proud of him.”
GREENEVILLE FALLS, 1-0
The Greeneville Greene Devils faced Valor College Prep in a TSSAA Class AA state tournament semifinal at Richard Seigel Soccer Complex on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Valor College Prep won 1-0. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Greeneville missed numerous scoring chances on its way to a 1-0 loss to Valor College Prep of Nashville in the Class AA state semifinals.
The Greene Devils (15-6-3) had 21 shots to the Wildcats’ seven shots.
In the first half, Greeneville had 12 shots and Valor Prep (17-4-4) had three.
“We knew we had to capitalize on our shots in the first half,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said. “We knew the longer it took us to capitalize on those, the more hope it gave them. Coming out in the second half, they came out with a little more energy than we did and really caught us off balance for one play. We had them down for five shots on goal.
“One of them, the kid turned, and it was an excellent shot. We preach to our kids, in games like this, a state tournament, the whole object is to capitalize on your opportunities and minimize the other team’s. Today, we weren’t able to capitalize. We had so many opportunities to capitalize and put this thing away early.”
Ryan Sparks scored the only goal in the 53rd minute off an assist by Michael Wright.
Drew Shelton and Brady Quillen had five shots each for Greeneville.
“This is one of the toughest losses we’ve had just because of the year we’ve had, where this team started from and where they are now,” Graham said. “Regardless of this loss, these guys were playing some of the best soccer here. In our opinion, we’re the best team here, and that’s hard because the scoreboard doesn’t show it and we’re not going to move on and play in that championship, but we were playing some of the best soccer here this week, and unfortunately, it just didn’t happen today.”
Greeneville was making its 11th consecutive trip to the state tournament and seeking its fourth state title.