AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The West Plains girls soccer team has advanced to the bi-district round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The Lady Wolves finished second in the district this season with a record of 14-6-3.
“They've put in so much effort and faced so much adversity. You wouldn't know it from the way we played or the way we scored, but this team is full of key players. We want to do whatever we can to accomplish that and win games,” West Plains girls soccer head coach Amberly Gerard said.
This is the Lady Wolves' second season and they reached the area round of the playoffs during their first campaign.
“Last season was kind of a Cinderella year where everything went well and everything went smoothly,” Gerard said. “We faced a little more adversity this year that other programs at the school have experienced, and the way they handled it, they handled it extremely well.”
Gerard continued, “The people who stay here are here because they want to be here. They come in, they choose to work hard every day, they choose to be successful, and they support each other as a team. I choose to be here for.”
Part of the team's success is due to their chemistry and growth offensively.
“I think one of the biggest factors that contributed to our success was our bond on and off the field,” junior Kat Torres said. “I think that really translates into the game, and when you need to connect, you really need to pass and score. Having that bond allows us to finish and get chances. I did.”
Because West Plains is the newest school in the Canyon Independent School District, some girls chose to transfer, while others were forced to transfer due to school zone issues.
“They wanted to come here, they wanted to be part of something bigger, something new,” Gerald said. “They could have chosen to stay with a program that is established and has a tradition, but they want it to be a tradition and a legacy that builds the culture of West Plains High School and girls soccer.”Program . “
Senior Stephanie Rich said it's great to be a part of something new and grow on and off the field.
“I can leave a legacy and show other girls how it should be done,” Rich said. It feels great to play at a new school. It's helped me become a better person, I've grown in many ways since I started playing soccer, and I've become more confident, which continues to grow. ”
For Gerald, the best part of coaching this team is watching how they show up for each other.
“They choose to still do what they know they need to do and what we need to do to be successful,” Gerard explained. “They're not just doing it for themselves. They're doing it for each other. If one teammate goes down, they're ready to get that teammate back. , that makes them really special.”
Now, heading into the playoffs, the Lady Wolves have changed their focus and are gaining momentum.
“Our biggest focus right now is to maintain Unity and keep the teamwork and team effort alive,” Gerald said. Our theme heading into the playoffs was the talent that got us this far. Now it's the heart and it's the team effort that will take us further. ”
The goal this year is to advance to the regional tournament and the Lady Wolves are confident of getting there.
“We've grown, we've learned how to pass better, we've learned how to shoot better, we've grown in every way,” Rich said. “So I believe we can win.”
Torres added that knowing what he was able to accomplish last season and what he was able to accomplish this season has given him confidence.
“I know we’re a good team, we all work well together, we each have very good skill sets, and we all need to work hard to win in the end. I know I can put in enough effort,” Torres said.
No matter the situation, the Lady Wolves are preparing to play against any team in any situation.
“We're practicing our offense, we're practicing how to make sure we do what we're supposed to do no matter what the conditions are, whether it's wind, rain, snow or cold,” Gerard said. . “We are scoring goals and growing as a team in the process.”
West Plains will play Burkburnett in the bi-district round at Happy State Bank Stadium on Monday at 4 p.m.
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