Senior Francesca Villa takes the ball downfield during this game against Strongsville.

With the OHSAA playoffs approaching, WJ’s girls’ soccer team looks to defend their state title, building on an undefeated season. The Lady Warriors have been tested in several key games, including a thrilling 3-2 victory over Hudson and their 4-3 victory over McDonogh, Maryland’s number one team. After their first playoff win against Canton-McKinley, they continue into the postseason on Saturday against St. Joseph’s Academy in Twinsburg at 4pm.

“It’s a great accomplishment that I’ve dreamed of since freshman year,” said senior captain Hannah Pachan after notching her 100th career goal. “But of course, none of this would be possible without my teammates and coaches who push me to be my very best in every practice and game.”

Pachan, a two-time All-American and Virginia Tech commit leads the Warriors in scoring and has made history as the top goal scorer in program history. Her relentless drive on the field set the tone for the team’s 4-1 win over Strongsville earlier in the season, where she scored the opening goal in a rematch of the 2023 state semifinal, as noted by Cleveland.com.

Coach Javier Iriart praised the team’s possession-based strategy. “We like to think that the more we possess, the less we defend,” Iriart told Cleveland.com. “So we kind of build our game model basically all around the idea of the more we move it the less the other team has it, and we try to control the game as much as we can at every moment.”

Facing the pressure of defending their title, the Lady Warriors have not shied away from expectations. “After our state championship win last season, it was difficult to deal with all of the pressure from the press and public to repeat such a great season,” said senior forward Ciara Santiago. “So far, we have lived up to our name and continued this success in an upward fashion.”

Senior captain Audrey Amsden credits their success to the team’s mindset and coaching. “I like to think we’re a humble group with a great attitude, and we owe a lot to our coaches,” she said. “All our wins are amazing, but the real battle is staying strong mentally and physically, which makes us stand out.”

The Warriors’ resilience was especially clear in the Hudson game, where they responded immediately to adversity. “That’s just how our mindset has been throughout my four years here,” senior Reagan Pentz told Akron Beacon Journal. “We play with pride and we know that if we go down, we’re going to get back up. It shouldn’t take goals to get us motivated, but I think that kicked us in the butt a little bit.”

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Warriors are focused and ready to show just how resilient they are. Their combination of skill, determination, and teamwork has made each game a must-watch for the school community.

“I look forward to the intense and fast-paced matches these girls bring to the field every week,” senior Jack Maher excitedly shared.