With a playoff spot secured for the boys soccer team, the girls have one final district game against the McKinney Lions on Tuesday, March 15. The Lady Leopards not only have to come away with a win to continue to the postseason, but the McKinney North Bulldogs also have to lose against Wylie.

“If McKinney North loses, then a win or a shootout win puts us in the playoffs,” head soccer coach John Baker said. “If McKinney North loses in a shootout, which is one point for them, we need to win straight up to go to the playoffs. So we need points, and we need them not to get points.”

Because of the obvious playoff spot on the line, the Lady Leopards have been more focused than usual at the task at hand.

“We have been a lot more focused lately bc of the pressure that is resting in this next game,” senior Elyse Gaccione said. “I know a bunch of us seniors are also a little nervous knowing that this could be our last game ever if we do not win, so yeah, just gotta keep focused and work together.”

Since the game is scheduled over spring break, the team is losing some players for the game due to their families being out of town.

“The final game being over break does have somewhat of an affect on the team, because spring break is a time for families and friends to go on vacations which results in some people being out of town for the game,” senior Rachel Willman said.

However, Willman is not worried that the loss of some players for the final game will have a result on the outcome.

“The team is stronger than ever right now, especially after our big win over Prosper last week,” Willman said. “I know that this team can do anything that we put our mind to. We all want to make the playoffs very badly, and we know how crucial it is that we win this game in order to make our playoffs hopes happen.”

In the first go around of district play, the Lady Leopards played well against the Lions, however they were unable to come out on top.

“McKinney is currently in third place in the district,” Baker said. “The first time we played McKinney we played really well. We had a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes into the game. We had an unfortunate red card and penalty kick that changed the game significantly. I feel like we outplayed them we just were a little unlucky with the situation.”

Besides fighting for a playoff spot, the seniors on the team have another source of motivation for this final game.

“The seniors are going into this knowing that it could be the last game that we ever play together, and I think that is our main source of motivation, because none of us want it to be our last game,” Willman said. “We all are going into it knowing that it’s not going to be easy, but it’s possible if we all work hard as a team, which I know we will do.”