Beech beats Seymour 3-2 in OT for first girls soccer championship in school history

Michael Murphy
The Tennessean
Kendra Mueller, left, and Emily Hickman of Beech celebrate with the championship trophy after their Class AA soccer championship match against Seymour Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Beech won 3-2 in double overtime.

MURFREESBORO — The Beech High School girls soccer team claimed its first state title in program history with Saturday’s Class AA 3-2 championship win over Seymour in overtime. 

Kendra Mueller notched a pair of goals for the Lady Buccaneers, tying the game at 2-2 with a 70th-minute set piece score, and the senior Chattanooga commitment also provided the assist on Jil Fuqua’s eventual game-winning goal in the second overtime period. 

“A lot of emotions,” Mueller said after the soggy, rain-soaked match. “I’m so thankful for my team. I told them that we needed heart for this game, and they put it out there on the field. I’m so proud of the way we fought for that game.

“Playing on that surface is tough for anyone.” 

The field, which weathered a pair of Division II title matches on Friday, was in such poor shape that the Class A championship match that followed was moved to an adjacent, more playable field located within the 130-acre Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

“It was a struggle for both teams,” Mueller said. “We just played. It’s one of those where you just have to look at it like it’s your last game, and for me and my other seniors it was.

“I told them, ‘Finish.’ And we finished strong’”

Beech's Jill Fuqua (4) celebrates scoring the game-winning goal with Hailey Burroughs (11) and Jana Stafford (10) during their Class AA soccer championship match against Seymour Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Beech won 3-2 in double overtime.

That’s been a theme throughout the season for the Lady Buccaneers (16-7-1), who struggled to a 1-5 start before bouncing back to win 15 of their final 18 games. 

Beech, which was outshot 7-6 in the first half, trailed 1-0 and 2-1 on Saturday 

“We found a level of mental toughness about midway through the season, and even when we went down there wasn’t that look of panic or any of that,” Beech coach John Ferguson said. “Then we went down again and there still wasn’t. We’ve been there.

“We said we finally have got them where we want them in extra time.” 

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-269-8026 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports