BEARVILLE — Pierce County’s Lady Bears and Bears soccer teams will play in the “Elite 8” for just the third time together after second round victories in the Class AA state tournament.
The PCHS program had both teams reach the quarterfinals prior to this season in 2014 and 2024. Each fell in the quarterfinals in both instances.
The fifth-seed Lady Bears (13-3) improved their winning streak to 13 consecutive matches and shutouts with a 5-0 victory Wednesday, April 29 over 12th-seed Shaw. The victory improved Pierce County’s second round mark to 5-10 with its third consecutive victory in the “Sweet 16.”
The Lady Bears, who are 0-4 (2014, 2018, 2024, 2025) in the quarterfinals, travel Monday, May 4 to fourth-seed Columbus (12-5), winners of eight straight matches. The Lady Blue Devils have allowed one goal during their winning streak and 16 for the season—five more than PCHS.
Columbus beat 29thseed Spencer 9-0 and 20th-seed KIPP Collegiate 13-0 in the first two rounds.
The seventh-seed Bears (12-5) posted their second straight post-season shutout, blanking 23rd-seed Spencer 3-0 Friday, May 1. PCHS moved to 6-4 in second round play.
Pierce County, making its sixth all-time trip to the quarters, will host 15thseed Hart County (18-2), winners of six straight matches. The Bears are 14 in the third round with the lone victory in 2023.
The Bulldogs, who started the season 11-0, blanked eighth-seed Josey 4-0 and 31st-seed East Jackson 1-0 to open the tournament. Hart County has surrendered three goals in its current winning streak and 11 for the season recording 14 shutouts. They have netted 101 goals.
PCHS’s Jayme Perez (31) defends a kick by a Spencer player in Friday’s second round match. Photo By RICK HEAD
No. 5 Lady Bears .........................5 No. 12 Shaw ................................0
The Lady Bears received goals from four players and one courtesy of a Shaw own goal.
Liza Thornton scored the only goal PCHS eventually needed off a perfectly placed pass from Maya Cochran for a 10 lead. Sylvie Branch followed with the second goal, again off an assist by Cochran.
The Lady Raiders aided the Pierce County attack with an own goal for a 3-0 margin.
Thornton later delivered a precise cross to Nevaeh Grant for the Lady Bears’ fourth goal of the match. Grant made a quick pass to Cochran, who scored from approximately 20 yards out to seal the 50 win.
PCHS’s defense and midfield remained consistent, controlling the pace of the game and preventing Shaw from generating scoring opportunities.
No. 7 Bears..................................3 No. 23 Spencer ...........................0
Austin Branch scored two second-half goals giving the Bears some breathing room after leading just 1-0 at intermission.
No other information was provided.
