After an undefeated season, Briar Woods’ Girls Varsity Soccer team brought home the State Championship trophy to close off the 2021-2022 Spring season. The long-awaited win took rigorous months of practice and hard work from both the coaches and the athletes. It’s known to many students that winning the State Championship game was top priority for the team, so now that they’ve done it, what are they planning to do this year?

Senior and center/outside midfielder Hannah Batt has high expectations for the new season. “We have such a new, young team so we are definitely in the rebuilding process. However, my expectations have not changed for this season and I believe we are capable of winning districts and regionals and making it to states. I think now more than ever, BW girls soccer has been playing more like a family and the outcomes have been good as we have had back to back shutouts,” said Batt.

She adds that “there is a lot of pressure to live up to last year’s achievements. Coach Bruton and Coach Short always say how every team we play wants to beat us and wants to have that title of beating the reigning state champs. Honestly, that is good for us because it helps us be accountable for our effort during practices and games because we know there is someone trying to replace us and challenge us.”

According to MaxPreps, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team won at least 21 games, tying only one game during the 2021-2022 Spring season. An accomplishment like this is difficult to achieve by most teams, but the Briar Woods girls did it with ease.

Assistant Coach Raven Short talks about what she’s trying to help the team accomplish.  “I think for us this season, with us having most of our kids graduating last year, I think just trying to maintain the dominance we’ve had over the last few years and trying to lay that foundation and the culture in some of the younger kids to try and maintain dominance and confidence,” she said.

To help the team prepare for the new season, “I don’t know [as far] as preparing because we kind of rebuilt most of our roster, so it’s just been getting back to setting goals and getting back to figuring out pieces and how they’re going to work and what we’re going to look like and what goals we have and things like that,” said Coach Short. She adds that “[they] have a good crop of returners, but [she] thinks that [they’re] reinventing themselves a little bit.”

Although most of the team last year graduated, they’re still aiming to remain on top, while making the most out of it. “This season so far has definitely been one to remember. BW soccer has meant so much to me and the fact that this is my last season with such a great team, it is so special. I’m just really trying to soak it all in one last time and enjoy every second on the field with my BW soccer family.” said Batt.