MOREHEAD CITY -- Underdog Beddingfield High played host West Carteret even for 60-plus minutes before falling 3-0 in the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A girls soccer playoffs Friday afternoon.
The Lady Patriots, the No. 1 3-A representative from the 3-A/4-A Coastal Conference, collected goals in the 65th, 70th and 75th minutes.
West Carteret posted a 13-8 margin in shots and got a goal each from Lauren Miller, Bianca Gray and Lauren Pearce. Gray scored on a penalty kick.
The Lady Bruins, No. 3 from the Eastern Carolina Conference, had three shots to ricochet off the crossbar.
"You never know what would have happened if one of those goes in," Beddingfield head coach Glenn Griffin reasoned. "That was a tough break for us.
"Once they finally scored, it took some of our energy. We did a good job for most of the game."
Griffin credited West Carteret (22-3) as a solid team that, in windy conditions, effectively played the ball to its feet.
The Lady Bruins coach lauded sisters Lindsey DeRatt, a senior, and Jamie DeRatt, a freshman, for their performances in splitting sweeper duties. Griffin added that senior Claudia Reya also played well at stopper.
Freshman goalkeeper Vielka Givens registered seven saves.
"Overall, it was a very good way to finish the season," Griffin reviewed. "You hate to lose it, but it's good to play well."
Beddingfield careers ended for seniors Lindsey DeRatt, Reya and Jean Best. The Lady Bruins exited with a 12-9-1 record.
"We were extremely young and got better," Griffin noted. "We had a dry spell early in the season but, once we got past that, we picked up, learned a lot and got better. It bodes well for the next few years."
Greenfield's season ends in defeat
The Greenfield varsity girls soccer team fell to Ridgecroft, 3-1, Friday night in the season finale at Greenfield.
Heather Bunn scored in the 74th minute on an assist from Azlynn Aycock for the Lady Knights' only goal.
Greenfield finished 3-11-2 overall and 2-7-1 in the 1-A Coastal Plains Independents Conference.
Hayes Barnes, an East Carolina University signee, opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Natalie Reddicka and Tori Sexton also scored for Ridgecroft.
"I knew we didn't have much coming into the season," Greenfield head coach Ben Forbes said. "Azlynn was the only starter coming back and we were mighty young."
The junior varsity team won the conference title, however, and Forbes was optimistic about next season's squad.
"I told the girls I was disappointed for them but not disappointed in them," he said. "We have a lot of people returning and we should have a good year if we can get everyone back."
Greenfield twice defeated Oakwood and also defeated Trinity of Fayetteville.
SOFTBALL
Lady Rams fall in seeding game
LAGRANGE -- The Greene Central softball team fell 2-1 Thursday against host North Lenoir for seeding priority in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference.
Liz Webb took the loss for the Lady Rams, allowing five hits in four innings.
Megan Lovett went 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Ashley Page went 2 for 3 to lead the Greene Central offense. Kayla Sutton went 2 for 2 for North Lenoir.
The Lady Rams play next in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A state playoffs against visiting Roanoke Rapids Tuesday at 7 p.m.