A less-than-ideal start to the regular season didn’t keep the Brentwood girls soccer team from finishing strong.
Brentwood went 0-4-1 in its first five games – a stretch that was interrupted by a two-week layoff in September due to COVID-19 issues.
The Bruins (4-3-1) have since found their stride.
Senior forward Maison Wells netted a pair of goals in a 2-0 win at Ravenwood on Tuesday night to secure the No. 2 seed for next week’s District 12-AAA tournament. The victory also helped Brentwood avenge its 2019 TSSAA Class AAA state-title loss to the Raptors.
“We definitely flipped a switch,” Brentwood coach Maggie McLaughlin said. “To win this game and clinch the second seed is really big for us. Our team has just really come together. They’re playing as one.”
Since losing to Father Ryan on Sept. 19, Brentwood has outscored its last four opponents (Independence, Clarksville, Summit and Ravenwood) 11-1 to cap the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
Wells has been the go-to weapon up top. She finished two perfectly placed shots against the Raptors and scored a hat trick in a 4-0 shutout of Summit on Oct. 1.
“She is so diverse in her attack,” McLaughlin said. “She’s got great speed and once she gets a step or two, anything is fair game for her.”
Center backs Kate Boring and Meghan Lee have made the Brentwood defense difficult to crack over the last two weeks. Senior goalkeeper Katherine McGee, who collected several saves to hold Ravenwood scoreless, has posted three consecutive clean sheets.
“Our defense is consistently strong,” Wells said. “They’re always battling it out and making saves. As a team, we owe a lot to them.”
COVID-19 shook up the team’s September plans. Practices and games were canceled, and players worked out on their own at home.
During that time, the Lady Bruins were able to shake off their early-season struggles.
“We were told not to get together,” Wells said. “We just had to get the quarantine over with and get back to it. I think we all worked hard during that period and came back stronger.”
The postseason will bring another challenge. To repeat as district champions, Brentwood will likely have to overcome Franklin (10-1-1) and Ravenwood (4-2-2).
The Bruins and Raptors met four times last season. Brentwood took the first three meetings, including the District 12-AAA and Region 6-AAA championship games, but Ravenwood won the game that mattered most.
“It’s very possible that we could fall in the same path as Brentwood again,” Ravenwood coach Jessica Mancini said. “If we do, hopefully it’s a different ending (than Tuesday).”
McLaughlin and Wells both said Brentwood’s togetherness has given them an edge heading into the postseason. The Bruins are seeking their fourth straight trip to Murfreesboro for another shot at the state title.
“I think we’re in a very good place,” McLaughlin said. “We’re healthy for one. This team is a big family. They play for each other every game. And they’re going to continue to do that.”
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