State Champs!

   A golden goal.
   For one unforgettable golden moment.
   What a season this Bedford girls soccer team put together.
   An undefeated record. So many goals. So few goals given up. And in the end early this afternoon, the biggest thing these Lady Bisons will cherish forever - a state championship.
   Through 80 minutes of regulation in the Class AA final against Lewisburg, nobody could break through as the title would be settled in overtime or a penalty kick shootout.
   But less than a minute of game time later, it was over with Amber Thomas connecting on a PK after teammate Abby Donaldson was fouled in the box.
   Thomas tallied her 58th goal of the year on a low shot to the left side of the net, and the celebration was on for Bedford, who finishes 22-0 this fall.
   The Lady Bisons had everything this year, from scoring to defense to the little things that can’t be taught or coached. That’s what it takes to win state titles.
   Bedford coach Jeff Thomas is an outstanding 81-6 in four years coaching the girls team. He deserves a lot of credit, though I know he doesn’t care about that. Each time I covered Bedford this season, he would always discuss how hard the team has worked since losing in the state semifinals a year ago.
   Jeff’s not a rah-rah type of coach on the sideline, but he obviously gets the job done. And he’s got good assistants, and first and foremost a very talented group of players. Watching the video of today’s winning goal, I got a little chuckle out of seeing Jeff’s reaction, the usual unassuming handshake from other coaches like it was any other win.
   Of course, it was not any other win, or any other day.
   Congratulations to the entire Bedford girls program for producing this moment in history.
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   Bedford Gazette Sports Editor Codi Weyant was on scene today and will have a story and plenty of photos in Monday’s edition. Be sure to grab a print copy or visit www.bedfordgazette.com.