BENTONVILLE — Morgan Freehling has become accustomed to having her high school soccer season end the same way and in the same location — playing in the Class 7A state championship game at Razorback Field.
The junior is about to complete her third season with Bentonville’s girls soccer team, and the Lady Tigers (13-4-1) will attempt to win their third consecutive state title when they take on Bryant in Saturday’s championship match.
Morgan Freehling
SCHOOL Bentonville
CLASS Junior
HEIGHT 5-8
NOTEWORTHY Made two key saves Saturday and denied Mount St. Mary the tying goal in Bentonville’s 2-1 semifinal victory in the Class 7A State Tournament. … Moved to a full-time defender role during her sophomore season and moved from outside back to center back this season. … Had the only assist in the Lady Tigers’ 1-0 victory over Conway for the 2012 Class 7A state championship game.
“We have built a legacy,” Freehling said. “It’s almost expected for us to be there, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Freehling is labeled as a center back by Bentonville Coach Kristina Henry, but she didn’t move there until after the season started this spring. The position comes with great responsibility. Her role includes keeping the back line in check, and she usually serves as the Lady Tigers’ last line of defense before opposing players get too close to the goal.
She played a key role in Bentonville’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Mount St. Mary last weekend as Freehling helped out goalkeeper Gabby Miller. She made a pair of critical stops in the second half and didn’t allow the Belles to score the game-tying goal.
“Any time Gabby comes off her line, the defenders’ job is to make sure they tuck in behind the goalkeeper,” Henry said. “Morgan did it. It’s one of those things when you hope you’re in the right place at the right time, and Morgan was. She was able to clear the ball off the line.”
Freehling’s role was not always as a defender. She saw spot duty as a midfielder during her freshman season, and she recorded the assist on McKenzie Dixon’s goal in Bentonville’s 1-0 victory over Conway in the 2012 Class 7A state championship game.
Henry always envisioned Freehling as a defensive player and moved her to an outside back position last year. She solidified herself in that role and started in the same spot this season, but later moved as Henry tried a number of defensive combinations.
“Defense is the position I’m comfortable with,” Freehling said. “At times, playing center back can be very intimidating and scary, but we have a couple of center midfielders that provide pressure. We can trust them.
“When the other team gets back there, it can be a scramble at times. We have to make sure we keep everything out.”
Even with the position changes, Henry has noticed one thing that hasn’t changed about Freehling in three years with the team — her confidence.
“She is such a steady player for us,” Henry said. “One of the nice things about Morgan is she has such an easy-going personality. She fits in, no matter what the situation. If it’s high-pressure she deals with it, and if it’s casual she slides right in.”
Sports on 05/23/2014