By Charlton Azuoma

The girls’ soccer team heads into CIF Division I playoffs with an overall record of 13-2-4 and a Mission League record of 6-2-1. The team finished second in the Mission League behind Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

Early in the season, the Wolverines went on an 11 game undefeated streak with eight wins and three ties. After that streak, they suffered a couple of disappointing losses at the hands of Chaminade and Notre Dame.

Even while having to deal with major setbacks such as injuries to forward Katie Spiedel ’11 and Katie Golden ’12, the team still managed to outscore its opponents 13-1 in its last four games.

Head Coach Richard Simms said that their presence on the field was missed.

“They are both leaders and having Katie Speidel’s goal scoring ability will be huge,” he said.

Forward Danielle Duhl ’12 has been a key player this year, scoring big goals to help close out tight games.

“Having a player that wants to win as badly as she does is infectious and she’s a huge key to any success we might have this season, particularly come playoff time,” Simms said.

“I think our number one focus heading into playoffs is to play as a unit,” Duhl said. “When we play together and every girl wants it for themselves and for the team, we’re hard to beat.”

In order to deepen their roster for the playoffs, the team has called up JV players Lucy Putnam ’14, Mackenzie Howe ’14, Tess Winebaum ’12 and Jackie Ridgely ’14.

“It’s an opportunity for them to gain experience as a couple of them have a chance to be starters on varsity next year,” Simms said.

The team will also need the seniors on the team to continue leading the squad if they are to make a deep run in the playoffs.

“Going into playoffs is definitely a different mentality than league, which can definitely make us nervous, but the positive energy from the seniors will definitely help us channel nerves towards hard work and giving everything on the field,” Duhl said.

The team’s first playoff game will be against Hart, who placed second in the Foothill League and has a record of 9-8-5.