Bearden (21-2-1) has been the only thing in Houston’s way recently. The Bulldogs beat the Mustangs in the 2021 and 2022 championship games and again in last year’s quarterfinals.
But Houston made an early statement of intent when they defeated Bearden 3-0 in August, a match that ended the Bulldogs’ three-year undefeated run. Saturday was much tougher though.
And nobody was tougher than McNamee.
She went down with what she said she suspected was a broken hand after colliding with a Bearden player with about 10 minutes to go in regulation. McNamee returned a couple of minutes later, though, and that proved decisive when the match went to penalties.
Kelly Behan, McNamee and Ellett Smith made Houston’s first three penalties. McNamee saved Bearden’s second attempt, leaving Houston ahead 3-2 heading into the fourth round.
That’s when things got interesting. Bearden goalkeeper Drew Tolley made a fine save of her own to deny Hallie McBride, but the referee ordered a re-kick, saying Tolley had moved off her line just a fraction too early. McBride then buried her second attempt to make it 4-2, and when McNamee dove to right to save Bearden’s fourth attempt, it was all over.
“I’ve broken it (hand) before,” McNamee said. “It feels about the same.”
And what about the penalty saves?
“Honestly, I have no idea,” she said. “Fake it to you make it. I was so hyped up on adrenaline, and we’ve worked so hard all year. ... Part of (it) is luck. Part of it is experience.
“It’s supposed to be easier for the field player, but I think I have the advantage. I’m watching them walk towards me, ... there are eye tricks you can play. And just trust your gut.”
Houston coach David Wolff wouldn’t trust anyone other than McNamee for the job.
“There’s a lot of colleges out there that have passed on her,” he said. “But they don’t realize that she’s the type of person who wins a game for you. And every single person that’s passed on her really doesn’t know what’s going on.
“They have no clue. It’s an absolute shame.”
Houston took the lead just seven minutes in when Ellett Smith beat her defender on the wing and crossed for Bella Drotar, who hammered it past Tolley. Bearden equalized midway through the half after a rare miscommunication in the Houston backline allowed Lily Bernard to slip in and score.
That was only the fifth goal allowed this season against what Wolff calls “the best defense that I’ve ever coached.”
“From top to bottom,” he said, “from the goalkeeper to the four defenders and three midfielders, it’s the best by far. That was the deal; those seven players were going to play their (butts) off, and the three players up top have to work their (butts) off.”
Houston continued to work and created its share of chances prior to the shootout. Bearden did as well; the final 80 minutes or so were a cagey, cat-and-mouse affair with each team having spells of control over the other.
Unlike last season when the two best teams met in the quarters by luck of the draw, this year’s final was a match that lived up to the occasion.
“The first time we beat them (in August), I realized just looking at the schedule that this was going to happen,” said Wolff, who won a state championship in the 1990s at Ridgeway and now has won in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s at Houston, “that we would ultimately have to play them (in the final). They were the two (seed); we were the one (seed). And much kudos to the TSSAA for finally going to seeding and making it worthwhile for the people willing... Click here to read full article
ARTICLE SOURCE: