High School Standouts: Mauldin Girls Soccer

MAUDLIN, S.C. (WSPA) – This week’s high standouts features a nationally ranked team looking to leave their mark as they head into the postseason with an undefeated record.

Mauldin’s girls soccer team just wrapped up the regular season a perfect 17-0 as they seek the program’s first state title since the 2008-09 season.

In addition to being the top-ranked team in the state, according to MaxPreps, they come in fifth in the country after ranking as high as second throughout the course of the season.

“It’s obviously really awesome that we’re ranked that high but it’s just all of our teamwork, how competitive we are,” said senior Sami Ruby. “We just love doing this sport and doing it together.”

For the eight seniors on the team, it’s a chance to leave their mark before moving on to the next level.

“This team is extremely close. A lot of us have been playing together for a couple years now but this year there are a bunch of seniors and we know it’s very important for the eight of us that are leaving next year that we’re all coming together,” said Ruby. “We know this is our year if we want to win state.”

“Everyone plays a part regardless of what role you play on the team. Everyone contributes to all the wins, all the losses, we’re all a team,” senior Eva Pennington said.

Just because the Mavericks haven’t recorded any losses doesn’t mean they aren’t battle tested. They have survived two penalty kick shootouts against some of the top area teams and rallied late in overtimes all while allowing just one goal scored on them all season.

“When we went to TL Hanna, which is when we got scored on, it was a little bit of a sigh of relief,” said second year head coach Alison Stelling. “That pressure of not getting scored on, that goal is out the window but we still have so many great things that we’ve done. It forces us to want to go bigger and better to keep that clean sheet.”

The Mavs continue their quest for a state championship on Tuesday when they host Spring Valley in the first round of playoffs at 7 p.m.

“For them, they have the ability; the technical, the skills, all that’s there but it’s going to be who shows up and plays their best game and the heart really and I think that’s what they have,” said Coach Stelling. “They want this more than anything in the world, I can’t do that part for them that’s got to come from within, I think they’re ready though.”

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