Most student-athletes dream of winning a state championship during their high school careers. For Broad Run High School seniors Whitney Church, Ellie Zoepfl, Kathy Taylor and Kacey Kelley, that dream was realized four times in their illustrious careers.

“I never imagined four years ago that we’d be here today,” Kelley said after the Spartans capped off an unprecedented run to their fourth consecutive Virginia AA girls soccer championship with a 1-0 victory over Blacksburg June 11 at Radford University.

“It’s just an amazing feeling and a great group of girls,” continued Kelley, a Coastal Carolina commit. “I’m so happy to have been a part of it.”

Church, the Dulles District Player of the Year set to play at Penn State next season, added. “It’s probably the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life knowing all four years of my high school career ended with a state championship.”

Zoepfl, a Virginia Tech commit, and Taylor, headed to Mary Washington, also shared their thoughts on the tremendous accomplishment.

“I couldn’t have asked for any better group of girls to win this with, to play high school soccer with,” Zoepfl said. “It’s unbelievable. I wonder every year if we are going to win and each year we come out and it’s a different win every time.”

“You don’t really come into high school expecting to make it this far,” Taylor said. “This team has been such a huge part of my high school experience. I’m just really happy to end it on such a positive note.”

Total team effort

A pair of Spartan underclassmen teamed up for the winning goal in Saturday’s title game. Junior Erin Brady headed home a well-placed cross from sophomore Cassie Smith midway through the first half for the first and only goal of the contest.

“They are a special group of girls, whether you are on the team one year or four years,” said Broad Run coach Claire Collins, in her ninth season at the Ashburn school. “Everyone contributed and it’s been a fantastic year. Although we are happy right now, we are sad that it’s over.”

The Spartans (24-1) scored five goals in each of their first two state playoff victories, but were forced to make the one-goal lead stand as several scoring chances came up empty.

“We had a lot of opportunities. I think their goalkeeper came up huge,” Collins said of Blacksburg senior Kelsey Fuller. “That prevented us from putting a lot of goals in the back of the net, which we normally do.”

Broad Run limited Blacksburg, a first-time finalist after defeating Woodgrove 1-0 in the semifinals, to just one shot on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Cassanova was credited with the shutout.

“What a great way to end your season, winning a state tournament. Especially four years in a row,” Collins said. “It says a lot about the girls. I know a lot of people were kind of doubting us, saying we couldn’t do it four years in a row. But they proved it wrong.”

Moving on up

The Spartans bid a grand farewell to Group AA with their fourth consecutive state championship. Broad Run will move up to the Group AAA classification next school year due to its growing student population.

Having set the standard in Group AA, Collins feels her team is ready for the challenge of playing bigger schools in AAA. The Spartans return a talented crop of underclassmen eager to keep the winning tradition alive.

“We are looking forward to it,” Collins said. “The last four years, we have either scheduled scrimmages or played games against AAA teams. We’ve battled with them, we’ve beat them, we’ve lost to them. I think it will be a good test for us.”

To view more photos of the game, go to http://loudountimes.smugmug.com/Other/Girls-state-soccer/17567873_hPmkVM

Broad Run Spartans

-Seniors
Whitney Church
Brooke Collins
Kacey Kelley
Emily Kim
Kathy Taylor
Maria Wilkins
Ellie Zoepfl

-Juniors
Erin Brady
Dani Dangremond
Chelsea Davis
Darbie Kelley
Emily Meyerson
Melanie Parr

-Sophomores
Christie Belz
Meredith Berger
Haley Casanova
Jessie Glaudemans
Katie Piper
Sam Rabinek
Cassie Smith

-Freshmen
Jordi Harris
Sydney Smeadley

-Head Coach
Claire Collins

-Assistant Coaches
Lauren Brewer
Steve Douglas
Matt Swartz

-Managers
Paige Illig
Devon Kraus
Pat Mitchell

Video: Broad Run High School players rejoice after receiving their Virginia AA girls soccer championship trophy June 11 at Radford University.—Times-Mirror Video/Carl Lukat