BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO – Logan Nelson gave his senior soccer teammates at Bearden a late graduation present Friday afternoon.
The junior goalkeeper saved the day for the Bulldogs, who won the Class AAA state championship by beating Ravenwood 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout at Siegel Soccer Complex.
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps spring sports coverage. For over 70 years, KOC has emphasized a unique practice of specialty orthopaedics. Click on the logo above to set an appointment.
Nelson made a save in the fourth round of the PK shootout, then made the clinching shot in the fifth round for the Bulldogs.
“It’s a fairytale ending,” Nelson said. “There’s not much more I could ask for. These are nights you dream about, saving a PK and then going up and finishing out the game as a goaltender. You don’t see that a lot.”
Friday’s match was a goalie’s duel between Nelson and Ravenwood senior Alon Biger, a Maryville College signee.
Bearden (21-3-1) and Ravenwood (18-3-4) played to a scoreless tie after 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtimes.
“I think this is the best present you could possibly have (for the seniors),” said Nelson, who was chosen MVP of the game. “They’ve worked their whole four years in high school for this.We’ve been playing soccer together for about the same amount of time, and this being their Senior Night, they graduated (Thursday night), and coming out here, they’re in the summer now and now they get to win a state championship. There’s not much could be better.”
After Wednesday’s 1-0 semifinal victory against Hendersonville, Bearden’s team returned to Knoxville on Thursday morning for the seniors’ graduation that night.
The Bulldogs stayed in Knoxville on Thursday night and returned to Murfreesboro on Friday morning for the championship game.
“It’s been a long week,” Bearden coach Ryan Radcliffe said. “We had our seniors sitting in a rainstorm in graduation last night, waking up this morning, getting back on the bus. I’m ready for a little bit of a break, but I’m so proud. It’s been five years (since the last state title).
“It’s been a long week away from our families, my family. I’m proud of this group to bring something home like this.”
Bearden won its sixth state championship and its first since 2019.
The Bulldogs were state runners-up in 2021 and ’22, and last year lost to Brentwood 1-0 in a state quarterfinal between two nationally ranked teams.
“It’s a long time coming,” senior midfielder Jack Raulston said. “My freshman and sophomore year we lost (in the title game), so we knew what to expect.
“We really only had four players that had ever played in a state championship and I think that us talking to everyone and getting everyone in the right mindset to come out today and win the game really helped.”
Nelson made 12 saves regulation and overtimes, and Biger made seven saves.
Bearden’s defenders also blocked several shots by the Raptors in front of Nelson.
“We’re very blessed with an experienced back line,” Radcliffe said.
Ravenwood had 23 shots to Bearden’s 14 shots.
In the PK shootout, Raulston scored for Bearden in the first round, followed by Dillon Sims, Noah Price, and James Lee.
After Lee’s goal gave Bearden a 4-3 lead in the fourth round, Nelson dove to his left and blocked a shot by Austin Harris, preserving the 4-3 lead.
“For that PK, I knew he was going that way,” Nelson said, “so as soon as I did, I dove that way, saved it and got up for that pin I had to take. I knew I had to put it in the back of the net.”
So did Radcliffe.
“I said, ‘Logan, you got us here to PKs. Now go win it for us.’” Radcliffe said. “He said, ‘I gotcha, coach.’ And what does he do? He makes the save and goes and takes the fifth shot.”
Nelson drilled a low PK shot past Bigor for the 5-3 win and state title.
“(Nelson) wants it. He’s confident,” Radcliffe said. “I won’t say cocky, but he is who he is. He’s been one of our leaders all season. The kid in practice is making those saves day in and day out.
“He’s grown. He’s just a junior, but he acts like a senior. You hear him, he never stops talking. I’m sure he’ll get on the bus and he’ll be dancing in the hallway of the bus on the way home.”
The seniors will follow Nelson’s lead.
“This is everything,” Raulston said. “I’ve been working all four years for this, the team, everyone. Everyone wanted to win this and we showed it. Everyone played their hearts out and played as hard as they could. That’s what happens when everyone playslike that. You win big games.”
SPRING FLING PHOTOS powered by KOC — 2024 State Soccer Championships (Class AAA, Class AA, Class A)