Lucas Nordin (20) and Ethan Ford (2). (Photo by Danny Parker)
MURFREESBORO – Bearden’s Lucas Nordin doesn’t need to worry about the record anymore.
The junior forward has a bigger prize in mind.
Nordin posted a hat trick Tuesday night – breaking Bearden’s single-season record for goals – and the Bulldogs posted a 4-1 victory over Franklin in the Class AAA state quarterfinals at Siegel Soccer Complex.
Entering the game, Nordin had 33 goals this season and was tied with Gabe Alverez, whose 33 goals in 2016 was Bearden’s record for a season.
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“Honestly, I don’t even care about that record anymore,” said Nordin, sporting corn rows for the state tournament. “I just want to win state with the boys. I knew that if we were going to win state, the record would probably come with it. There’s nothing to be too excited about. We’ve got two more games to go, but it’s pretty relaxing to know I’ve broken that record.”
Bearden (20-1-3) advances to Wednesday’s semifinals against Murfreesboro Oakland (19-2-2).
“I don’t think I need to say any more about that game (Wednesday),” Bearden coach Ryan Radcliffe said, “and I don’t think there should be any lack of motivation going into that game. We’ll take 24 hours to recover and hopefully get our legs and be ready for a good show tomorrow.”
Bearden’s game against Franklin on Tuesday was a rematch of last year’s state semifinals won by the Bulldogs, 1-0.
It had all the intensity of the 2021 game, and Bearden needed almost a half to get on the scoreboard.
“The first half was wild. It was intense,” Radcliffe said. “I thought they came out and took it to us the first 20 minutes and it took a little bit to settle us in. But state tournament, final eight teams, you’ve got to expect every team will battle you, and I thought we were able to settle in, especially in the second half, and you saw Lucas’ prowess. He’s special and he’s showing it.”
Nordin scored in the 34th minute off an assist by Cooper Cross.
“Cooper beat his man and I checked off my man,” Nordin said. “He played me through and I was able to beat the keeper (Aiden Moss) to the ball. I beat him and I was able to slide it in the goal.”
Bearden took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Nordin scored again in the 52nd minute on an unassisted goal.
“I hit a guy with a double-stepover and hit it top corner,” Nordin said. “I don’t think anyone’s saving that shot.”
Three minutes later, Franklin was called for a penalty in the box, and Nordin converted with a PK goal past Moss for a 3-0 lead.
Franklin got its goal by Davis Long in the 71st minute.
Rudy Darden scored Bearden’s fourth goal in the 77th minute.
By then, Nordin was on the Bearden sideline, stretching and getting ready for Wednesday.
“He’s motivated, and he’s not concerned about whatever goals he has,” Radcliffe said of Nordin. “He told me yesterday at practice, ‘Coach, I want a ring.’ That says a lot about him. He’s motivating. He’s not a captain. He’s just a junior, but people are looking up to him.
“He’s leading us. He’s a presence. You can hear him on the bus ride over how excited he is to be out here and playing. When you’ve got that talent and you’re excited, and you’re ready to show off on a stage like this, you get something special, and that’s what he’s doing right now.”
COLLIERVILLE OUSTS KNOX WEST
West gave up two goals in the first 17 minutes and lost to Collierville 3-1 in a Class AAA quarterfinal Tuesday.
The Rebels (15-6) were making their first appearance at state since 2008 when they lost to eventual champion Brentwood 3-2 in the semifinals.
West defeated Collierville 2-0 in the 2008 state quarterfinals, and the Dragons gained a measure of revenge Tuesday night.
“We set a goal to be here and (the players) accomplished it,” West coach Alex Walls said. “It’s been an outstanding season. I love this group of guys and they love each other, and they accomplished what they wanted to.”
Collierville took a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute on an unassisted goal by Luke Johnson.
The Dragons made it 2-0 on a goal by Dawson Davis in the 17th minute.
“It kind of caught us off guard,” Walls said of the early goals. “The formation and the way they played was a little different than what we were expecting, but they did a great job. They’re a great team. We had a slow start but I think we kind of turned it on a little too late in the half and too late in the game.”
Micah Soper scored in the 64th minute for a 3-0 lead.
Fletcher Freeman got an unassisted goal for the Rebels in the 74th minute.
Collierville had 11 shots to West’s five.
Walls knew the Dragons were a tough out – like the rest of the Class AAA teams at state.
“I looked at the final bracket Monday morning and was like, ‘Holy Cow’,” Walls said. “What a group of eight teams. There’s no pushovers here. We knew coming in they were a good team. They always are, but I was telling my guys we belonged here and I think we showed it.
We just gave up two quick goals and had a tough time rebounding after that.”