Lady Jets On All Cylinders Going Into State Soccer Tournament

MADISON- The third-ranked James Clemens girls’ soccer team has made school history by advancing to the final four of the AHSAA State Tournament for the first time in program history and will now face Vestavia Hills in the tournament’s semi-finals.

The Lady Jets soundly defeated fourth-ranked Spain Park 8-2 in the opening game of a double-header match at Madison City Schools Stadium. In the second matchup, Bob Jones lost to Vestavia Hills 3-0, thus ending its hopes to face their crosstown rivals in the state tournament and end their season 12-4-3.

“We fired on all cylinders, came out quick and played until the final horn,” said Erin Riddle head coach of James Clemens. “We simply outplayed ourselves in this match and that has been our goal all season. Our girls have been phenomenal all year long.”

The Jets were led by Rachel Bradberry who had her first career hat trick scoring three goals and Hannah Patterson who added two goals of her own. Additional goals were scored by Hannah Swager, Lily Wright and Hannah Smid.

After giving up a quick goal to the visiting Jaguars, James Clemens went on to score three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead at halftime. Midway through the second period and holding a 4-2 lead, one of the key moments of the contest for the Lady Jets was when senior goal keeper Nic Guay held off the Jaguars’ top player in Alyssa Young and covered in what could have been an easy goal for the visiting Spain Park Jags (17-6).

“Nic may be the best goal keeper in the state as she posted 11 shutouts this season, including six in area play and has had 80 career starts for us,” said Riddle. “Now we must face Vestavia Hills, a team we split two matches with during the season. I believe the team with the best 11 on the field that day will come away the victor. I truly believe this team can do it.”