After being shutout in last week's season-opener, the Bradley Central soccer girls have come back with a vengeance this week, outscoring their three opponents 15-2.

After back-to-back 4-1 victories over Rhea County and Red Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bearettes capped off the three games in three days by blanking Sequatchie County 7-0 Thursday at BCHS.

Bradley was originally scheduled to play Chattanooga powerhouse GPS Thursday, but the Lady Bruisers backed out to play in a tournament. "GPS wanted to go play with Baylor in a tournament and Sequatchie is in their first year of having a program and they called and wanted a game, so we gladly switched," Bearette head coach Chrissy McKinney explained.

Although Bradley is in a "rebuilding year," according to McKinney, they looked like old pros in the three easy victories this week. "We have played well this week, but you also have to consider who we played," the coach remarked. "There's a big difference in playing a GPS and playing Sequatchie."

Bradley's dominance of Thursday's match was obvious from the get-go as the Bearettes controlled the opening kick and quickly got the ball to scoring machine Andrea Spencer and the junior drove in for her first of four goals in the contest, less than 30 seconds into the match.

Spencer, who also had "hat tricks" in Tuesday and Wednesday's matches, added first half unassisted goals at the four and nine-minute marks. The junior forward finished the week with 10 goals in three games, plus she had an assist.

Bradley's first-half scoring was capped by junior Abbie Hinkle, who on a corner kick at the 25th minute, wa credited with a goal when a Lady Indian accidentally directed the ball into the goal.

Hinkle did get a regular goal in the second half. Freshman Kelsey Whitmire fired a left-footed shot that was bobbled by the Sequatchie goal keeper and Hinkle punched in the rebound.

Bradley goal keeper Alex Lewis made the most of a rare opportunity to get out of the box and into the rest of the field. The junior was able to drive the ball in several times and found the back of the net once.

"We were able to play everybody and get them some good expeirence," Coach McKinney related. "We named (Katherine) 'Cat' Hawkins as the Player of the Game because she played the entire game and helped cover for many younger players we put in. She played a very consistent match."

On Wednesday the Bearettes traveled to Red Bank and had a repeat of Tuesday's victory over Rhea. "It was the same as the day before when Andrea scored a 'hat trick' (three goals) and Lyndsey Maples had the other off an assist by Andrea," Coach McKinney related.

"We had to make an adjustment to the wide field at Red Bank," the coach added. "We have such a narrow field here (at Bradley) so we have to play a little different when we go to the bigger fields."

The Bearettes led 3-1 at the half against the Lady Lions. Lewis had four saves in goal for Bradley.

Coach McKinney's squad will take the home pitch again on Tuesday when Silverdale Baptist Academy comes to town.

Joe Cannon
Banner Sports Writer
Friday, Sep 05, 2008

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