Wolfpack has time for injuries to heal

The Greenbrier High School girls soccer team didn't need to be at full strength to win its fourth region title in five years.

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The Wolfpack had key players out with injuries this season, but they were 5-0 in conference play through March 21 and needed to win only one of their remaining two games to clinch the top spot in Region 2-AAAAA.

The No. 1 seed earns the Wolfpack home games for the first three rounds of the Class AAAAA playoffs.

"We've taken care of the business in our region to put us in place," Wolfpack coach Alex Heider said. "Now, it's just continuing to work towards getting better. And the girls that are hurt and injured, getting them well for April."

This month will be good preparation for the state playoffs. The Wolfpack play Region 3-AAAA champ Lakeside on Thursday and at Heritage on April 11 before playing host to Aquinas to end the season.

Heider allowed himself to look ahead, noting the first two rounds of the state playoffs were spread across two weeks, meaning the Wolfpack could have some extra time to heal.

Ailments have included a torn ACL, strep throat, the flu and knee injuries.

"Hopefully, that will give us some time to recover," Heider said.

The Evans girls missed their shot at a region title after their first league game, a 4-0 loss to county rival Lakeside. The Panthers rolled through their remaining region games to lock up the region's top seed.

Evans coach Greg Young said he thinks the Knights have come a long way since their meeting with the Panthers. Young's team rebounded to secure the region's second seed and has played well in its nonregion games, beating Aquinas 6-4 on March 18 after playing the Irish to a 1-1 tie in February.

"This team has really became close knit with each other," said Young, who is in his first year as the Knights coach.

"They look out for each other on the field. I would say their mentality right now is they want state. They definitely want to go all the way."

The Knights would probably like another crack at the Panthers. There's no region playoff this season, which makes the scenario unlikely, unless the teams meet in the upcoming Class AAAA playoffs.

Young was quick not to take anything away from the Panthers, who outscored opponents 91-0 this season.

"Lakeside is a great team," he said. "They are where they should be."