Posted on October 12, 2017.
By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Although the final scoreboard read 9-5 in favor of the University School of Jackson Lady Bruins, the Tipton-Rosemark Academy Lady Rebels still left the Rebel Soccer Field in good spirits. Last Tuesday was more than a day for the final 2017 regular-season contest. The day was for four seniors Brittany Hall, Anna Applebaum, Lauren Caradine and Rebekah Watson. In addition, TRA Head Coach Pete Gutierrez was proud of his team’s overall effort against one of the best private school teams in West Tennessee. “It’s been going good,” Gutierrez said. “I believe we’re heading in the right direction. I believe overall we’re on the winning side of it.” Gutierrez arrived to TRA Soccer last spring taking over the Rebel program first. He guided the boys to a historic playoff win over the FACS Crusaders on May 8. In his first go-around with the Lady Rebels, Gutierrez has led TRA to a 5-6 regular-season record with victories over public school teams that used to handle the Lady Rebels. Another sign of progress was shown against USJ tallying 5 goals. The Lady Bruins jumped ahead 3-0 in the first 28 minutes of the contest. At the 9:16 mark Lady Rebel Brianna Hall took the ball about 40 yards away from the opposing goal. The freshman dribbled through Lady Bruin defenders to create an one-on-one opportunity. Hall blasted the ball into the net to make the score 3-1. Hall’s goal seem to spark USJ as the Lady Bruins scored two goals in 2 minutes and 10 seconds to make the score 5-1. The Lady Rebels turned the trick courtesy of the Hall Sisters. Brianna used her athleticism once again to finish a goal on a breakaway to make the score 5-2. Brianna’s goal was at the 2:32 mark. With 40 seconds left in the first half big sister Brittany took a penalty kick for TRA scoring with ease to make the halftime tally 5-3. USJ came out firing in the second half with 3 goals to make the score 8-3. TRA’s final two goals of the contest came off the foot of the senior Hall. Brittany used a combination of educated feet, quickness and soccer intelligence to tally the two goals for the hat trick. “I would sum it up as how impressive how far these girls have come,” Gutierrez said. “I’m very proud of them as far as the work they’ve put in for the entire season. And how they played this game. They made an effort and they really wanted it. We couldn’t get it but I think I’m OK to say they’re OK with the score being what it was. They worked hard out there the entire day.” The very next day TRA jumped into the postseason at Harding Academy. Gutierrez was ready to make history with the girls like the boys. “I sure hope we do make some history,” he concluded. “That would be nice. Let’s see.”
TRA won its postseason opener 3-0 to advance to this week’s play.
