Liberty Hill
a closed-door preseason meeting with her teammates and Panthers coach Darren Bauer, who told his players that “this would be our year, this would be the year we were going to state.”
“When he was passing out our jerseys, he told everyone who didn’t believe they would win to walk away,” Durkin said.
Everyone stayed, committed to a team that includes 13 freshmen and only three seniors.
Liberty Hill’s athletics program has proved its excellence over time. During the 2017-18 school year, every Panthers squad that competes in a UIL team sport — football, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer and girls soccer — has reached a regional final.
“In every competition we are in, we expect a state title — not district, not regional, state,” Bauer said. “That is what we strive for.”
Briscoe, a transfer student from Springfield, Mo., has been dynamic in her first season with the Panthers. In the 15-0 victory over Cameron Yoe, she scored seven goals. Among the top performers for Liberty Hill’s offense are three freshmen — forward Piper Tabor (23 goals), forward Maddie Dube (20 goals) and midfielder Abigail Janicek (16 goals, 18 assists).
If the team named a defensive MVP, it would be junior Kyla Boliek, according to Carter and Durkin.
“Even if we were up 14-0, I’d get nervous if (Bauer) took Kyla out,” Durkin said. “I’m like, ‘This is it. They’re going to score a point now.’”
For Carter, who typically starts in goal, playing at the state tournament will be something she has “dreamed about” since she was barely old enough to kick a soccer ball.
“I’d look out the bus and see the soccer kids, and I wanted to be part of that,” she recalled. “And now, not only am I one of those soccer kids, I’m one of the goalies on the team.”