DANDRIDGE — Bearden still hasn’t allowed a goal this season.
Limiting Jefferson County to one shot on goal certainly helped.
The defending District 2-AAA champion and Class AAA semifinalist Lady Bulldogs remained at the top of the conference standings with their 4-nil win over Jefferson County at Leroy Shannon Field on Thursday night.
Between regular season and district tournament play, Bearden (7-0, 2-0 District 2-AAA) has now shut out conference opponents in five straight matches dating back to last season, and the Lady Bulldogs are 10-0 in regular-season conference play since the 2017 realignment.
Jefferson County goalkeepers Adriana Rehg and Cammy LeClercq held their own for much of the match, with Rehg saving five shots in the first half while LeClercq stopped three in the final 40 minutes.
But there was only so much they could do against Bearden’s attacks and counterattacks, especially with the Lady Patriots (4-3-3, 1-1) struggling to maintain possession of the ball.
“We didn’t get to test their goalkeepers because we couldn’t hold the ball long enough,” JCHS coach Shawn Way said. “I just wish we had more composure on the ball than we had. Playing defense for 25 to 40 minutes in a half is exhausting.”
Although the Lady Patriots surrendered just one goal in the opening 40 minutes, disaster struck when the teams hit the pitch again.
Just two minutes into the second half, Alex Smith possessed a through ball and patiently dribbled until she could get a direct opportunity. When she did, Smith struck the ball low and away for a quick 2-nil lead.
Five minutes later, Brinley Murphy helped the Lady Bulldogs capitalize on a corner kick as Hailey Cartt dished out the assist.
Abby Brewer scored Bearden’s final goal shortly thereafter in the 50th minute, lobbing her shot from inside the 6-yard box just out of the keeper’s reach and into the upper 90 inside the right post.
Bearden held a commanding 24-6 advantage in shots taken, which included a 12-1 lead in shots on goal as JCHS couldn’t get a shot on until the second half after recording two shots off in the opening stanza.
With the Lady Bulldogs keying on Abbie Zander, Way played her in different areas on the pitch throughout the evening.
“We just need to figure out a way to create more offense, and it can’t just be one person,” Way said. “We were weak in the air and that led to two goals. You can’t give them second or third chances in the box, on the ground and in the air.”
Bearden finally finished an attack against the JCHS defense in the 29th minute as Becca Roth freed herself inside the box, sending the ball past the keeper and toward the center of the net for a 1-nil lead.
The Lady Patriots entertain rival Morristown West, also 1-1 in district play, on Thursday, Sept. 19. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Dumplin Valley.
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