How Ravenwood soccer's penalty-kick loss was emotionally draining in TSSAA championship
MURFREESBORO — Ravenwood goalkeeper Alon Biger melted into the ground in front of the goal.
His guess to the left was correct, but the ball placement from Bearden's goalie Logan Nelson was perfect and just enough pace to push past Biger's hands into the back of the net that lifted Bearden to the TSSAA Class AAA state soccer championship, winning 1-0 (5-3 on penalty kicks) over Ravenwood on Friday at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
Just a minute before, Nelson blocked Ravenwood's fourth attempt and coupled with his goal, Bearden (21-3-1) captured the program's sixth state championship and first since 2019. Ravenwood was denied its first title, playing in its first boys soccer championship game since 2016.
"This is very difficult because I though we were the better team today," Biger said. "We had more than 20 shots on goal. But I have to give credit to their keeper (Nelson) because he was exceptional in regulation and overtime."
Biger had seven saves during the game, many of which were acrobatic, matching Nelson's shot-stopping abilities throughout regulation. Bearden's first penalty kick ricocheted off Biger's leg into the net. Biger guessed correctly on the direction of four of Bearden's five PK shots, but couldn't stop the ball from getting past him for the key save.
"I did study the (Bearden) players before the game and that's why I was able to dive the right way, but luck wasn't with me," Biger said.
Spencer Brown admitted the stressful toll a shootout can have, particularly in the TSSAA playoffs. Brown and his teammates stood arm-in-arm as players from both teams took their turn in front of the goal Friday.
"Our team has gone through PK's before and I know our guys can bury them," Brown said. "It's devastating having to watch them run around the field and cheering, but you can't take anything away from our team either. The way we played, and battled. It just wasn't meant to be."
Ravenwood (18-3-4) beat Franklin on penalty kicks for the District 10-4A championship May 9 and seemed poised for the program's first title, beating two-time defending state champion Brentwood for the Region 5 championship nearly two weeks ago, then knocking off seven-time state champion Houston in Tuesday's quarterfinal.
"Is this the toughest way to lose (in PK's)? Probably," Ravenwood coach Michael Reed said. "In terms of the game of soccer, It's not one anyone really enjoys. Even on the winning side, ideally you'd want to beat them in regular playing time. But it is a piece of the game. You have to give credit to (Bearden)."
A Ravenwood win would have been a third straight state title from a school in Williamson County. Friday's loss was the first for the Raptors since dropping a 3-1 decision to Brentwood on April 5. Ravenwood was 15-0-1 in its last 16 games, entering the AAA championship game.
"I think this will go down as one of the greatest teams in Ravenwood history," Biger said. "Even this loss, losing in PK's doesn't change what we accomplished this year. Our season ended on the very last moment a season can end."
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA soccer: Ravenwood falls to Bearden in AAA state final to PKs
