The new uniforms spread color throughout the new turf field. The team laces up their cleats as they start their pregame warm ups. Stretching one way and running the other, they prepare to face off with their opponent. The team forms a tunnel for the starting players to run through, eventually standing for the national anthem as one united front. The team gathers one last time before the start of the game to continue the tradition of their “on me, on we” chant. Players line up in their positions as the referee blows a whistle to indicate the start of the game and the new season.

“A lot of girls from the freshmen class came up and are now standing out on our team and filling the places that the seniors from last year had,” senior Taylor Greene said.

After a summer full of practices, the girls soccer team started the 2018 season without several of last year’s seniors that the team lost due to graduation. Although they did gain a large freshman group that had to step up to fill the cleats of previous years members.

“We lost a couple of really good players who did make a difference in the two or three years that they were with us,” head coach Colin Williams said, “but we have a really good, strong freshman group this year. All five of them will be more than capable to play at this level and will help us continue what we’ve put together in the past few years.”

The first scrimmage that was held on Aug. 21 against Riverside ended in a score of 8-2. Then, followed by a score of 7-0 on Aug. 27 when the bulldogs faced off against Chartiers-Houston resulting in another scrimmage win for the team. As the team progresses each year they continue to uphold their section championship title and making it to the WPIAL finals, but there was no question whether the team could maintain their momentum from the past, according to Williams.

“I think that we are definitely capable of winning our section and making it to WPIAL finals like we have in the past three years. We have a really strong team, and as the season goes on, we’ll continue to up our game and find the same success we’ve had the last few years,” Williams said.

On Sept. 5 the Bulldogs faced off with OLSH 6-1. Next, they took on Sewickley Academy at home with a final score of 10-0 on Sept. 6. Senior Alexsia Barlamas and freshman Jayden Sharpless were the leading scorers. The team traveled to Neshannock on Sept. 10 to defeat their opponent 18-0. Their next game took them to South Side, defeating the lady Rams 7-0 on Sept. 13.

Although the team has had a winning season from the very beginning, Williams wants to ensure that the girls have some fun even with the seriousness. He believes that the players are much more happy if they’re having fun no matter what their record may be.

“I have to make you enjoy the game before I can teach you,” Williams said.

The players are looking forward to continuing their season strong and making the most of their time together.