OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Lady Mustangs of the Soccer Club of Oak Ridge became back-to-back D2 Tennessee State Cup champions on May 25 when goalie Zara Kreon secured the win by saving a game-winning PK.
Kreon's teammates were in disbelief when it happened.
"I was frozen for a few seconds, and then everyone just kind of ran over to her," left defender Leah Nichols said. "Some people were crying they were so happy."
The SCOR squad of 17 girls will now travel to Plano, TX, after receiving an invitation to compete in the club's first Regional Cup in program history. The Lady Mustangs will play in a round-robin, four-day tournament with four of the best club teams in the Southeast.
Head coach Sean Moua knows how big of an accomplishment this is for his team.
"This is a huge step up—multistate, all southeast," Moua said. "I'm just honored to be coaching these girls."
The accomplishment is even more special, knowing that 11 to 13-year-old girls are becoming the first team to compete at this level for SCOR.
"Not many girls get this opportunity, and I'm just very thankful for it," Nichols said.
The Lady Mustangs are also thankful for their parents, who work hard each week to care for almost every aspect of their young soccer careers.
"From snacks, to rain gear, to umbrellas, to everything. It's just a super group of parents," Moua said.
Abby Nichols, Leah's mom, is the team manager, and she takes on a huge job that keeps the team functioning. From ensuring the girls have food to ensuring they have credentials to play in a game, she's a significant piece of the puzzle regarding the Lady Mustangs.
"I do have a regular job, but being the manager does take up a bit of time, but it is worth it," Abby said.
A top-two finish at Regionals would send the girls to compete for a national championship in Kansas, but the team said getting this far is an accomplishment in itself.
"The girls love to win but they're not in it for trophies and glitters and glam, they're really in it because they love the game," Moua said.
Shiny hardware or not, the journey these girls have been on and the bond they share matter more than any title.
"It's just been a journey, and now going to Texas, we're just gonna go out there and do our best and what we're just known for," striker Aurora Morris said.