Springdale girls soccer players began practice Thursday evening just as they had dozens of times before, laughing, chatting, stretching and warming up ahead of their workout.
It just happened to be the final practice of the season on a cold, rainy November night at No Offseason Sports in Russellton as they trained for the biggest game of their lives.
The Dynamos (20-1) remained relaxed yet excited and confident ahead of their meeting with District 2 champion Dock Mennonite (20-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in the PIAA Class A championship game at Cumberland Valley's Eagle View Middle School Field in Mechanicsburg.
"It's the last game, last practice. It's the last for a lot of things," senior forward Briana Ross said. "I think everyone is just excited to get out there and show everyone what we are made of."
The feeling of finality certainly hit home for the five seniors on the team, who want nothing more than to cap off their high school careers by raising a state championship trophy.
"We're all sad, but it's a bittersweet moment because we're super excited as well," senior midfielder Molly Hurley said.
The Dynamos enter the state final winners of 11 straight games following a 3-0 nonsection loss to Burrell in September. They defeated Winchester Thurston in the WPIAL championship game and then earned PIAA tournament victories over Conemaugh Township, Bishop Guilfoyle and Seton LaSalle to earn the program's fourth trip to the PIAA championship game.
The previous three trips in 1997, 2009 and 2011 ended in defeat, providing added motivation for the current Dynamos to add to the school's trophy case.
"Overall, the whole team is just motivating each other," senior keeper Baileigh Haas said. "We're trying to keep level heads and not get too confident, not get too nervous and just keep our own minds."
Dock Mennonite is certainly familiar with the state championship atmosphere after defeating Riverview, 5-1, to capture the PIAA Class A title last season. The Pioneers earned a spot in this year's state final with a 2-1 win over Moravian Academy in the semifinals.
Sophomore Ashley Brown -- already the program's all-time leading scorer with more than 90 goals through two seasons -- had both goals. She also scored twice in a 4-0 win over Camp Hill in the quarterfinals and had a hat trick in a 4-0 first-round win over Muncy.
Brown scored four times in last year's PIAA championship game to finish her freshman season with 41 goals.
"They look like they are solid all over the field," Springdale coach Marc Bentley said. "Obviously, they have a standout player in Ashley Brown. She seems like she's so dynamic. She gets on the ball, she runs at people and, obviously, is a prolific goal scorer as well. We'll try our best to shut her down (Friday) night."
Springdale will counter Dock Mennonite's attack with its own scoring prowess. The Dynamos have scored 117 goals this season, an average of 5.5 per game. In the 4-0 win over Seton LaSalle in the PIAA semifinals, junior midfielder Hailey Marchlewski scored twice, and Hurley and freshman forward Tessa Derringer also scored.
Defensively, the Dynamos have allowed just 17 goals all season. Haas made 10 saves in the semifinal shutout, her 11th of the season.
"We need to just play how we play and not play scared," said Ross, who leads Springdale with 41 goals. "We should definitely look to play our game and not play how they play. Just try and keep our heads up no matter what happens in the game and always try and stay in it."
The Dynamos will depart for Mechanicsburg on Friday morning with the support of a community and school district that has planned a celebratory sendoff for the team. Once they take the field, they can rely on months of preparation and training to get to the pinnacle of Pennsylvania high school soccer.
"(I want them to) just be proud of themselves for getting there, enjoy the moment, enjoy the experience of playing in a state final and then just try and win the individual battles all over the field," Bentley said.
"Be better than their counterpart on the other team. All I can ask is that they work hard, do what we've been working on all season. It's 11 v. 11. As long as they work harder than the other team, or as hard, then we give ourselves a chance."
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at [email protected].