Class 4A boys soccer: Bayside Academy wins 4th title in a row
Westbrook Christian played top-ranked Bayside Academy in the Class 4A boys final for the last game of Championship Saturday on field 1 in John Hunt Park in Huntsville.
Bayside also enjoyed the field’s last celebration, after winning 3-0. It was the Admirals’ fifth championship and fourth in a row.
“It’s a process of doing the little things right every day,” Bayside 18th-year coach Jamie Ferguson said. “The key to this game is you have to be brave to play. But the most important thing is you have to finish your chances. You have to be really disciplined in what you do. You have to be cool and calm.”
Joey Jones, a senior, scored two goals and had an assist for Bayside (17-1-3). Named the game’s most valuable player, he finished with 21 goals for the year. He played six years with the team.
“This game, my teammates helped me out a whole lot,” Jones said. “My first goal, my teammate Luke (Ferguson) played me a perfect pass. My second goal, my friend Ballard (Sweat) played me a perfect ball, set me up.”
Bayside led 1-0 at halftime. Tipton Smith headed in the goal after Jones’ long free kick in the 10th minute. After intermission, Jones scored in the 41st minute with an assist from Ferguson and in the 78th minute with an assist from Sweat.
“What was a perfect example of being cool and calm was our second goal when Luke Ferguson assisted Joey Jones,” Ferguson said. “Those are the moments that we play for. And I’m proud of the boys for continually keeping their identity, including this fellow right here (Jones).”
Westbrook goalkeeper Brady Fouts made 14 saves while Bayside’s Aldo Bryant had one.
The unranked Warriors finished at 12-10-3.
“We started the season 0-7, so we got it turned around,” Westbrook second-year coach Danny Dunlap said. “And we played a lot of teams that are here this weekend. We were just outplayed by a really good team. We were pretty worn out from yesterday and we just couldn’t get anything going.”