James Clemens girls’ soccer team two wins from a state championship
MADISON- For the first time in school history, a soccer team from James Clemens has made the AHSAA Soccer Championship Tournament at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.
The #3 ranked Jets girls soccer team defeated #4 Spain Park Jags in Madison City Schools Stadium in a key playoff match on May 6 to earn a berth in the AHSAA Class 7A State Soccer Tournament in Huntsville.
Spain Park scored first but the Jets answered in a big way. Freshman Hannah Patterson scored on a breakaway goal then two minutes later Jet senior Rachel Bradberry scored the first of three goals on the night with a Patterson assist. Senior Hannah Swager closed out the scoring for the half with a goal at the 1:48 mark as the Jets built a lead to 3-1 at halftime.
The Jags fought back with a goal four minutes into the second half but after that it was all Jets.
Bradberry and Patterson each scored again to stretch the lead to a comfortable 5-2. Lily Wright connected on a penalty kick after a holding penalty for the Jets’ 6th goal. With 1:17 to go Bradberry completed the hat trick with an assist from Emma Houssain as the gap widened to 7-2. The Jets were not finished as junior Hannah Smid punched one in on a rebound with 00:27 to go.
Head coach Erin Riddle said the Jets success this season starts with goalkeeper Nicole Guay.
“Nicole is a great decision-maker and a decisive very composed keeper. She is flanked by three senior defenders and our standout freshman Britton Slifko. The core of our team is our midfielders. Freshman Hayley Bedingfield and Emma Houssain and Lily Wright together they have been almost unbeatable. On top we have real producers. Our leading scorer is Hannah Smid and close behind is Rachel Bradberry who has been our leading scorer the last two seasons.”
The three defenders are center Kayley Arnett, Nishma Patel, and Hannah Swager.
James Clemens this season was able to oust Huntsville who had knocked them out of the playoffs the last two seasons. Most of the players have had success at the travel team level so the winning has been like a reward for hard work.
Riddle played on the Bob Jones team that won a state championship in 2003.
“I didn’t think it could get better than playing in a state championship but it is way cooler coaching in one for me. All the hard work your players have put in you can enjoy it from all 22 players perspective rather than one single minded player.”
The Jets have played a physical brand of soccer this season challenging the ball and not afraid to mix it up with their opponent.
“These girls go in hard on every tackle and we have worked hard on strength and conditioning,” Riddle said. “We have a composed possession game rather than some teams who try to push the ball forward and run onto it and hope athleticism wins the match. We play with all eleven players for 80 minutes. We have worked on our spread and consistency rather than relying on any one player to win the game for us.”
The Jets will play Vestavia Hills at 1:00 on Friday in the state semi-finals at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The winner will play for the state championship at 10:00 am on Saturday 5/12. The Jets and the Rebels (ranked #2, 20-3-1) split in regular season contests this year, with each team winning on their home turf.
“The Vestavia game will be one of our best games this season,” Riddle said. “Both teams have talented starting eleven and deep benches. I’m expecting a tough close game. To win James Clemens’ school’s first team sports state championship would be the ultimate reward for these girls.”
McGill Toolen from Mobile and Enterprise High School are the other two teams in the 7A tournament.
