Soccer is a highly regarded sport at Pierce County High School, especially on the girls’ side. Under head coach Alvin Thrift, last year the girls ended the season 15-3-1. Pierce County’s Lady Bears are different from other high school soccer teams for many reasons, but especially in their dedication and enthusiasm for the game.
Practice for the 2016 season began on January 18 at 12 a.m. “We start at midnight because it is the first day we can have the ball at practice,” Coach Thrift said. “And it provides a lot of excitement for the players.”
This season, there are 23 players, most of whom play year round on travel teams. The seven seniors include Lauren Lee (team captain), Morgan Lee, Mariah Aspinwall, Allie Smith, Ashley Hunt, Gracie Bennett, and Sarah Beth King.
“I am exceptionally proud of the girls for putting in so much time in the weight room and doing ball control drills,” Coach Thrift said. Lauren Lee, Mariah Aspinwall, and Allie Smith are all four-year starters for the Lady Bears, and last season Lauren Lee scored 22 goals along with 21 assists while Mary Courtney Puryear added 24 goals and 11 assists.”
As always, the Lady Bears’ team goals are to win region and state.
“The final game of the season last year was a difficult one, as it always is, because we did come up short of a state championship, but at the same time it is a time that you have to watch some seniors that everyone has come to love go away and know they will never play for the Bears again.”
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By Ivy Young
