The girl’s varsity soccer team capped their season off with an exciting playoff run. The Cats opened with a 1-0 double-overtime victory against Gaithersburg before falling to B-CC in a 3-0 loss, marking the end of a memorable season.
Their first playoff game began at Gaithersburg with a delayed start from the boys varsity playoff heartbreaker, making it difficult for the Cats to find their usual rhythm. The slow warmup led to an uneasy start, but the team adjusted and began to take control of possession. Both sides battled, creating offensive opportunities that were missed or stopped by strong defensive play.
“We had warmed up and mentally prepared, however because of the late start our timing was totally messed up,” sophomore Ashlyn McCullough said.
After 80 minutes of regulation, the match continued into overtime. With a first round exit right around the corner, the Wildcats stayed composed under pressure and continued to push forward. After one overtime period, neither team was able to make it on the scoreboard, meaning a second overtime period was needed to find a winner.
In overtime, the rules are simple; whichever team scores first wins and moves onto the next round of playoffs. The Wildcats were determined and fierce, ready to pounce at any opportunity that came their way. This is exactly what happened when senior Haley Prindle found the back of the net in the final minute of double overtime to send the Cats into celebration and advance them to the next round.
“It felt amazing when she scored because we had been knocking on the door all game and we were so close to scoring so many times,” junior captain Chloe Russ said. “It felt like a lot of our hard work throughout the season paid off.”
Their playoff journey continued just a few days later against B-CC in cold conditions that made play difficult, not to mention that senior captain Evie Avillo had suffered a serious injury. Adding to the injuries another key player, sophomore Sofia Marini, suffered her second concussion of the season. Despite the loss of important players, the Cats still played with motivation and worked hard, with solid stretches of possession in their attacking third.
“[The game against] B-CC was hard because a couple of girls on our team were injured from Gaithersburg and then when one of our players got hurt in the first 30 seconds of the game, it was hard to focus back on the game,” McCullough said.
Although the Wildcats created many opportunities for themselves, they were unable to score and ultimately lost 3-0. The defeat marked the final game for the team’s seven seniors, who left behind a legacy of leadership and commitment for the program. Over the years, they helped shape a positive team environment which was built on hard work and perseverance. Their presence on the field has set a strong example for the younger players who will continue to carry the program.
“Our connections and relationships with each other and with our coaches were amazing and definitely contributed to our success in games and how much fun we had this season,” Avillo said.
The thrilling double-overtime win and the effort shown in the last game showed the team’s character and the pride they take in representing the program.
