Journal photos by Jordan Wald.
By Rubin E. Grant
The Homewood girls soccer team has been on a mission this season.
After narrowly missing out on the school’s second state title in 2021, the Patriots are highly motivated to hoist the championship trophy this spring.
The Patriots played regulation and two overtimes before falling 2-1 in a shootout (5-4) to St. Paul’s Episcopal in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A championship game last year.
“We know what it feels like to lose in the state championship game and we don’t want to feel that way again,” senior goalkeeper Katie Crim said. “We didn’t have our best game in the state championship game last year, so we have used that to work hard and encourage each other whenever we play.”
The hard work and togetherness is paying dividends. Homewood is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in the Alabama Coaches’ Poll and No. 2 in the Super Poll behind Class 7A No. 1 Oak Mountain (17-1-1).
The Patriots entered this week — the final week of the regular season — with a 14-2-1 overall record. They also were 5-0 in Class 6A, Area 9, following a 6-0 victory against Chelsea last Friday at Waldrop Stadium.
Homewood’s only losses have been against Class 7A teams, 2-1 to Thompson and 1-0 to Oak Mountain. Homewood also battled Oak Mountain to a scoreless tie early in the season.
The Patriots have a talented, experienced and fun-loving team. They have eight returning starters from their 2021 team and several seniors who have grown up playing together, including Crim, center back Lilly Lowery, center back Caroline Crimi, left back Mary Ellen Petrella, center midfielder Maddie Massie and left wing Rika Kellen.
“I feel like we have been playing together our entire lives,” Crim said. “We’ve got great team chemistry. We’re really close and we play for each other.”
Lowery and Crimi were freshman defenders on Homewood’s 2019 championship team.
Lowery, Crimi and Crim will play soccer in college, at South Alabama, Berry College and Oglethorpe University, respectively.
Homewood has two other seniors, right wing Selah LeDuc and forward Catherine Owen.
The Patriots also have a few veteran juniors, including right back Sunny Ferren, left wing Grace Studinka and forward Mary Siena McBride, one of two daughters of head coach Sean McBride on the team. The other is sophomore center-mid Annie McBride.
“I think we have a team filled with great personalities,” Sean McBride said. “They jelled quickly this season and they all have worked so hard. It’s a collective thing.
“They have so much fun getting ready to play, playing music and doing silly dances. They’re a great bunch of kids.”
Homewood was scheduled to play Chelsea Tuesday on the road in its final area game, then close the regular season Thursday with a home game against Hewitt-Trussville.
The postseason begins on April 28 with the first round of sub-state. McBride believes his team will have a chance to erase last year’s disappointment.
“We’ve got to stay humble and stay focused,” he said. “The first thing we have to do is outwork our opponent and keep our feet on the ground. Every game presents challenges, but we have a pretty focused group.”
