Blake Colston
sports@piedmontnewsonline.com
Brad Brucker sent his Lady Wildcat soccer team home for spring break with a fitness guide and a reminder.
“We play Bishop McGuinness in our first game after break,” he said.
It’s the same McGuinness squad that ended Piedmont’s 2017 season in a 6-1 rout in the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs.
That loss resonated with Brucker and Piedmont’s program well into the offseason and still plays a significant role today.
“That was an embarrassing loss,” Brucker said. “Since that game, everything we’ve done in our program has been about toughness and competition.”
Now, the Lady Wildcats will get a chance for some revenge, and, more importantly, a view of where they’ve come since that loss.
“We put them on the schedule for that reason,” Brucker said. “This really will be a ‘where do we need to go from here game.'”
So far, so good.
With a mix of young talent and returning veterans leading the charge, PHS is off to a 6-1 start this season with its defense serving as the catalyst. The Lady ‘Cats have allowed only three goals this season and have posted five shutouts.
“I’m pretty excited about our start,” Brucker said. “This has a chance to be the best defensive team we’ve ever had here.”
Brucker credits that potential to improved talent across the field, including in goal, where Brucker recently named Maci Attalla as Piedmont’s starting keeper after an early season derby with Kennedy Hendren closed in a photo finish.
“I believe I have the two best keepers I’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said. “That was the hardest personnel decision I’ve ever had to make.”
Piedmont’s defense has a chance to strengthen even more as Lydia Wade returns from early season concussion issues to bolster PHS in the midfield beginning with the McGuinness game.
Offensively, Piedmont has been solid early this season, though the program’s second all-time leading goal scorer Kilie Swanson has been slowed by injuries to this point.
Freshmen Kenley Gold and Brooke Welch have helped pick up the slack, with Ash McMahan and Aspen Cope contributing as well.
“We’re getting production from more spots, which makes us tougher to guard,” Brucker said.
McGuinness appears to be as strong as ever. Through four games this season, the Irish have a 33-1 goal differential and own a 5-0 win over Enid. PHS beat the Pacers 3-0.
“I think we’re pretty similar teams,” Brucker said. “But at this point, they’re probably seen as the best team on the west side of the state.”
The matchup will be the premier game in the state in Class 5A Tuesday, though Brucker said the result won’t be significant because it’s a non-district contest.
“It won’t mean anything for what it does for us from a playoff standpoint, but it would give us some confidence,” he said.
After its game with McGuinness, Piedmont will host Duncan on Friday at 5:30 at F&M Bank Stadium.
