Manchester Academy's girls soccer team has been paying their dues for several years working to become the kind of team that can compete for a state title.
Now that hard work has paid off to the point where the Lady Mavericks are a legitimate contender.
That doesn't mean that the road is going to be much easier, but head coach Jacob Iles couldn't be more excited about the journey.
The Lady Mavericks (2-1-1) achieved a milestone victory recently with a 1-0 win over Park Place.
"We haven't beat Park Place since I've been here," Iles said. "That showed us how far we've come as a program."
Manchester began district play with a win with a 5-0 win over Greenville St. Joseph.
"That was quite the accomplishment for us - not so much the victory, but the way we did it," Iles said. "We have always been strong on defense, but scoring five goals is unusual for us. That was uplifting for me. I was very happy with that."
Anna Kate Griffin scored three goals to lead the Lady Mavericks to that victory.
Freshman Sidney Porter added the other two.
"Sidney is a great athlete," Iles said. "She's already making a big impact as a ninth grader."
Iles said that this year's team is loaded with senior leadership with nine seniors on the team. Seniors include Olivia Fulton, Annsley Smith, Anna Kate Griffin, Ellie Grace Merrill, Allison Neel, Mary Walker, Ivy Sowell and Lanie Potter.
"These girls have been playing for me for three years and most of them were playing together before I got here," Iles said. "They have taken their lumps. They've experienced some tough losses along the way, but now it's all paying off. This year is what we've been working for. We're playing for a state championship."
Goalie Lanie Potter has proven to be a key to success for the team.
"Lanie has excellent hand/eye coordination, and she's just very athletic," Iles said.
Seventh grader Angel Rae Carpenter is a starter on the team and already making major contributions.
The Lady Mavericks return to action on September 3 when MA hosts Discovery at 4 p.m.
