By Ken Lay
Six area high school girls soccer teams played for the right to advance to the grand stage, and three were able to punch their ticket to the 2026 state championships and both Bearden and West High will begin their quest for a state title in Chattanooga on Tuesday. Webb School of Knoxville will play in Division II-AA state semifinals on Wednesday.
The Lady Bulldogs (16-3-1) had a relatively easy time advancing as they shut out Morristown West, 6-0, early Saturday afternoon in the friendly confines of Turner-Allender Field.
Landree Horner, a Webb School of Knoxville transfer, tallied a pair of goals in the match against the Lady Trojans, who finished the 2026 campaign with a 15-4 record.
Avery Stevens, Madi Bowlin, Leighton Corum and Baylor Kohlbusch also found the back of the net for Bearden, which has qualified for the state tournament for the seventh consecutive season, and the ninth time in 10 years. The Lady Bulldogs have also won four of the last five Class 3A state championships.
Things, however, weren’t quite easy for the Lady Rebels (11-6-2), who outlasted Science Hill, 2-1, in Johnson City. West got goals from Charleigh Freeman and Reed Townsend scored in the match for the Lady Rebels.
In the Division II-AA, the Lady Spartans have reached the state semifinals for the third straight year as they posted a 5-2 victory over Lipscomb Academy. Webb has reached the championship match in each of the last seasons. It is, however, in search of that elusive title, having lost twice in the finals to region rival Chattanooga Baylor.
In the Division II-AA state quarterfinals. Christian Academy of Knoxville and Concord Christian School both saw their respective seasons come to an end on Saturday.
The Lady Warriors lost to University School of Jackson, 3-0, while the Lady Lions lost to Lausanne Collegiate, 2-0, in West Tennessee.
In Class 2A, Gibbs lost a state sectional match in Greeneville, 3-0, bringing its season to an end.
