BY RYAN O'CONNOR

The Bedford girls soccer team continues its remarkable effort in attempting to earn a Class I playoff berth.

“That would be pretty unbelievable if we (made the postseason), but you never know,” said head coach Michelle Winning, who previously wouldn’t acknowledge this season as anything but a developmental year. “We’ve been pressured a lot by some of the better offenses, so our defense is really getting stronger.”

Now 5-3, with more than half the season behind them, the Bulldogs cannot be taken for granted.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Bulldogs traveled to Pelham and ruined the Pythons homecoming with a 4-0 defeat of the hosts.

Carley Pestana scored the only goal in the first half on an assist from Sarah Sullivan.

“We couldn’t do anything against them in the first half, but in the second half we kind of found their gap and exploited it,” said Winning.

Casey Levis knocked in a rebound off a Molly McGown shot, Colleen Murray took a pass from McGown and planted it in the back of the net, and Murray completed a cross from Ansley Beaver.

Keeper Sarah Hickman faced and stopped five Pelham shots.

The Lady Bulldogs have five regular-season games remaining, all against foes with winning records. Winning said they’re ready to face that challenge – just in time.

“The girls are starting to really respond to the things we talk about at halftime and execute the game plan we have in place,” said the coach. “They are really starting to learn the game. They’re starting to get what it means to play at this level.”