It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the girls’ soccer team at Meridian High School, but they’ve been getting hot at the right time, taking a three-game winning streak into a crucial Tuesday home game against the Northwestern District rival Brentsville Tigers. At 7-6-1 entering the night, a playoff berth still likely requires at least one more win for the Mustangs, and this would be an opportunity for a statement victory against a Brentsville group with only one loss all season long.

Things got off to a fast start, with Meridian earning a quality chance at the Tigers’ goal line that was stopped right on the doorstep. Midway through the first half, Brentsville earned a breakaway opportunity but Serena Binkowski hustled to chase down the runner, preventing a quality scoring chance for the visitors. The game would go into the intermission still scoreless, and only minutes into the second half, the Mustangs put not one, but two shots directly on goal that simply refused to trickle into the net.

But with 25 minutes remaining in regulation, everything changed. Lucy Hladky drew a penalty that resulted in a free kick, and with her father Shannon calling the action from above the home bleachers, drilled it to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Brentsville would have its chances to even the score, but Baelyn Reinfurt and the Meridian defense in front of her held serve, escaping with the critical win to provide a massive boost to their playoff hopes.

The win is the first ever for Meridian over Brentsville ever since they began competing in the Northwestern District in 2020. It will now be a quick turnaround for the Mustangs, who are back at home tomorrow night to face Osbourn in their regular season finale.