The Mighty Bluebirds blasted through the State Championship tournament field on the way to their 6th consecutive title by avenging losses to a couple of teams that had beaten them late last season. The Bluebirds won their first game over the Arkansas Comets 5-0 with Haley Hatcher scoring 4 goals and Sarenity Gomez scoring 1. In the second game the Bluebirds beat Little Rock Futbol Club with Haley Hatcher scoring all 4 goals. In the third game the Bluebirds beat the Ingram Soccer Club 3-0 with Haley Hatcher scoring all 3 goals and in the final the Bluebirds beat Conway 2-1, Haley again scoring both goals.
The Bluebirds only gave
up two goals throughout the tournament with a very solid defense led by
Megan Batek at sweeper, Apple Filat and Kelsey Smith at the outside backs
and Rachel Rickenbach at the top of the diamond. Goalie, Madison Lee,
played a very strong tournament at goalkeeper. New and very improved players
roamed the field in the midfield with Madison Brooks, Emily Sebo, and
Samantha Mack all turning in solid, physical, and aggressive performances.
Although Haley Hatcher scored 13 of the Bluebirds 14 goals she couldn't
have done it without the perfect passes from Larkin Hatcher, Samantha
Mack, and Sarenity Gomez, and Payton Maher at the other forward and halfback
positions. It was a team effort with Haley doing the finishing. The Bluebirds
finished the season going to finals in three out of their four tournaments
losing only one in overtime on a golden goal. Although it was a rebuilding
year the Bluebirds proved that they could rebuild a team with newcomers
and still get the same result, in fact, this year's State Championship
was more lopsided than last years.