Winning two straight state titles has not made Bearden girls soccer complacent.
In fact, the Lady Bulldogs are playing the most difficult schedule in program history.
The soccer team’s new schedule isn’t just new for the players; it’s new for Coach Ryan Radclife.
With back-to-back state championships and the 2023 national championship on their résumé, many teams are not excited about playing Bearden, creating difficulty in scheduling matches.
“You’re finding a lot of teams that are saying no sooner and earlier, because of our history and where we finished ranking wise,” Coach Radcliffe said. “If I was trying to schedule against us too, it would be hard.”
This year for the Lady Bulldogs, that challenge in scheduling matches has resulted in teams from out-of-state reaching out to play them: Albertus Magnus High School from New York and Assumption High School from Kentucky.
“We are even a game shorter than our regular schedule,” Coach Radcliffe said.
“It’s also exciting there have been out of state teams that wanted to come play us. Coaching wise, this has been the first time we played multiple out of state teams.”
The Lady Bulldogs beat Assumption 6-0 on Friday with four goals from Jayla Blue and two from Alivia Stott. They return to action Thursday when they host Catholic at 7 p.m.
Stott, a recent Tennessee commitment and Bearden captain, is looking forward to the new competition the team will receive as a result of their new schedule.
“We play teams that we beat 8-0, 7-0, so this year it will be nice to play teams that will challenge us going into state,” Stott said.
This season has been an adjustment from the past two seasons. Bearden lost six starters from its national title-winning side, including three who are playing in college this year.
“Lots of our older players have made an impact in carrying out leadership and different styles of play,” Blue said. “We have had to switch up some of our game plan and formations, so we can utilize scoring opportunities.”
Despite the girls’ difficult schedule and the different leadership roles this season, they still have their sights set on a third consecutive state championship.
Both Blue and Stott said that different players have taken on roles as leaders on and off the field, and they hope that this will lead them through the challenges they will face this year.
“We have a couple people that are changing the way we think about the season,” Stott said.