Photos by Heather Belcher
Last season the Philip Barbour girls soccer team made it to the Class AA-A State Soccer Tournament for the first time.
Now the Colts are one win away from their first ever girls soccer championship title.
Philip Barbour earned its championship opportunity with a 1-0 defensive gem against Winfield in Friday’s semifinal match.
“All season our defense has been underrated because we have had such a great offensive year. People tend to overlook our defense and our keeper,” Philip Barbour head coach Blake Williams said. “That was story of the game. We had a great defensive effort tonight and we kept pounding and pounding to hit their defense and we got one through.”
The game winner came off the foot of sophomore forward Braylyn Sparks with 12 minutes to play.
“All I was thinking in my head was take your space this time. I took my space and took my touch around the goalie and I hit it low,” Sparks said. “I was thinking, thank God, now play defense for 12 minutes.”
The win for Philip Barbour earns it a rematch with two-time defending state champion Charleston Catholic who dumped the Colts in last year’s semifinal clash.
“Our seniors did a great job of preparing us and we knew more what to expect this year,” Williams said. “We wanted to win, but last year we were a little more happy to be here. We were more content with that step. This year we are hungrier.”
The Irish and the Colts also met this year to open the regular season which was a 5-1 Irish triumph.
“We played Charleston Catholic earlier in the year and we were without one of our starting, attacking mids,” Williams said. “We also didn’t have our starting keeper. I look forward to the game. I know (head) coach (Amy) Mullen is a great coach and they are a great team.”
“We just need to play the way we know how to play,” Williams went on to say. “We know how to play soccer. We are technically sound. We can posses and move the ball quick. We can defend. We just have to go out with the right mindset, believe in ourselves and execute.”
