Articles

The Will to Win Can Not Be Beat! Go Rebels!

After four consecutive state championships, 1993 was supposed to be the year to end the Lady Rebels' reign as TSSAA state champs. The team started off the season at the top of the polls by picking up where they left off, opening the season with five consecutive victories. In the sixth game of the season, they were knocked off by Oak Ridge in the Mitre Invitational. It was the first time they team had not won the tournament, the first of many "firsts" for the Lady Rebels. The loss to Oak Ridge was followed by a loss to county rival, Brentwood, another first. Many people were beginning to count out the Lady Rebels at this point.

At the Germantown Soccerfest, the team suffered losses to Germantown as well as Bartlett, and tied White Station. This caused the Lady Rebels to drop to eighth in the polls. Hendersonville was then the #1 team and was picked to replace the Rebs as state champs. It was time for the Rebs to face them. At the start of the game the girls gained a 3-1 lead, but the game ended in a 3-3 tie.

It was the regional tournament time and the Lady Rebels were pumped and ready. It would take six consecutive victories for the Rebels to again be state champs. In regionals, the girls beat Whitehouse, defeated #1 ranked Hendersonville, 5-1, then moved on to county rival Brentwood. The team gave it all they had and defeated Brentwood 2-0 for the Regional Championship.

In Sub-State, Father Ryan was waiting. The Rebels shut out the Irish in a 3-0 victory. Against all odds, Franklin was returning to state. They defeated Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett then played Chattanooga Notre Dame for the championship. By the end of the game the Lady Rebs had gained a 4-1 victory and were once again the TSSAA State champs.

(click image for full size)

bottom: Nealy Pearson and Nicole Andrews stop a Harpeth Hall player.

top left: Sara Collier's speed wins the day against a Father Ryan defender.

top right: Alicia Hanne wins possession from a Notre Dame opponent.