Lady Eagles in preseason action. Photo:Rhea County Lady Eagle Soccer

Lady Eagles Look to Continue the 2021 Success in 2022

8/16/22

Evensville, Tennessee -- The 2022 season begins tonight, August 16th in Evensville on Bill Horton Field with 7 pm start time. Coach Katherine Bradley will lead the Lady Eagles into the 2022 season after a fantastic season for the Lady Eagles last year with 2nd place finish behind McMinn. Six Seniors will lead the way for the Lady Eagles. Shaylie Needham, Bailey Brown, Savannah Tilley, Autum Spivey, Ally Belle Arnold and Hallie Smith are the six seniors on the roster. Three players made All-Region last year. One, senior goalie Michaela Reeves graduated, but two of those honorees are back with Sophomore Laurel Butt and Senior Hallie Smith returning. Lady Eagles had several make All-District with Sarah Horton, Micaela Reeves, Sophie White and Laurel Butt winning honors. Junior Hallie Smith was selected the 2021 District Defensive MVP. Second team honors went to Ally Belle Arnold and Emma Reeves. Most of that talent has graduated, so coach Bradley will look to her underclassman to step up and fill some of those shoes.

Emma Reeves is one of those All-District returnees and the only Junior on the team, which makes this a young team with 13 Sophomores(8) and Freshman(5) dotting the roster. Sophomores are Anna Grace Fraley, Cammie Ruehling, Lilly Chattin, Laurel Butt, Bekah Horton, Lilli Gardners, Katie Ryan and Ashley Reed. Freshman include Kloe Reeves, Holly Dyer, Maddie Neal, Addy Beasley and Emree Harris.

After the opening game, the Lady Eagles head up to Smokey Mountain Cup Tournament. This tournament is presented by BSN Sports. Lady Eagles will play Central Hardin High School and Madisonville North Hopkins High School in Kentucky with Dobyns-Bennett High School sandwiched in-between the two Kentucky schools. Games will be played on the 19th, 20th and 21st. The season really gets into gear with district games vs McMinn and Walker Valley on the 1st and 6th of September with McMinn on the road and Walker Valley at home. The Lady Eagles play 6 district games this year, so each one will be impactful. Those six games go against McMinn, Walker Valley, Howard, Cleveland, Bradley and Ooltewah.

Head Coach Katherine Bradley give her insights into the 2022 season.

Who will be your main competition in region?

"Finishing in 2nd last year puts a big target on our backs. Mcminn County finished 1st in district so that’s our biggest competition. But, Walker Valley and Cleveland will be strong competitors this year as well."

What is the strength of this year's team?

We have a strong defense returning. Three of our starting defenders are returning. They are being led by our Senior center back Hallie Smith. Hallie was our district defensive MVP last year and will play a large role in our team defensively and through her leadership. Sophomore forward Laurel Butt is returning and looking to make a big impact offensively with the help of incoming Freshman forward Kloe Reeves. A few key returning midfielders includes Senior Ally Belle Arnold, Junior Emma Reeves, and Sophomore Cammie Ruehling. We’re looking to play strong defense and create lots of goal scoring opportunities through our midfield and forwards.

Coach Bradley gives us a look into her experience with soccer.

"I’m originally from Alabama and played at Fort Payne High School. In high school I was a captain my senior year and mostly played midfield, but really played wherever coach needed me.  I earned academic and athletic scholarships and played for Bryan College for 4 years. I played mostly defense in college and earned all-academic honors my junior and senior years. After graduation I coached in Georgia for two years before moving back to Dayton. I helped Justin Smith out as an assistant coach for 4 years before taking over as head coach in 2019."