For the first time in the program’s history, Lancaster High School’s varsity girls’ soccer team won the Ohio Capital Conference. LHS senior Avery Westbrooks was selected as OCC-Buckeye Division Player of the Year and LHS teacher Brian Griffin was named Coach of the Year. Several other players also received honors.

“I think the greatest highlight to the season was watching the maturation of the players on and off the field,” said head coach Brian Griffin. “The team at the end of the season wasn’t the same as the team at the beginning of the season,” he said.

LHS junior Lily Palmer agreed that they had a rocky start at the beginning of the season, but that the team pulled it together.

“We had a great season, it was rough at first. But after the first few games, we learned how to play as a team, which led us to a winning streak along with winning the OCCs,” said Palmer.

LHS senior player Morgan Nettles recalled the highlights of the season.

“We overcame challenges, bonded as a team, and managed to make history! Sure, it unfortunately ended short but there is nothing I can say I regret. I love this sport and I love this team. I’m so glad to have been a part of the Lady Gales soccer team,” said Nettles.

Senior Avery Westbrooks said a highlight of the season was the game against Pickerington Central. 

“It was the first step to winning the OCC’s and the energy that we had felt that game was amazing,” she explained.

“Everyone knew we had a job to do and we got it done.” 

Westbrooks also credits their win against Newark as a springboard to the league championship.

“That feeling was unreal for me. The feeling that we won and it was all ours was amazing,” she said.

Dedication and teamwork is something that every team needs to succeed. Some of the players said that the effort they put into a positive team dynamic paid off.

“Our girls struggled a lot with inner team conflicts that prevented us from playing to the best of our ability and discussed how to hold each other accountable and managed to overcome the issue for the rest of the season. It allowed us to grow as a team and was a major connecting point to our success.” 

Griffin said that one challenge the team overcame was the ability to combine the different styles of play and comfortable positions into a cohesive unit.

“Sometimes a decision has to be made that is for the better of the team, and may not be what a player is used to, so buying in is a huge component to the success of the team,” said Griffin.

The history-making championship is a memory that Westbrooks said she will cherish.

“I am so happy that these girls are the ones that I am graduating with. They are amazing young women and I am so very happy to end my high school career with them.”