Liberty girls soccer star Rilyn Breinholt wants to turn state tournament dreams into reality

As Rilyn Breinholt walked to her weightlifting class, the junior's eyes were drawn to a banner suspended high above the Liberty High School gym.

The banner reads, “Liberty Girls Soccer State Appearances" with no years listed.

It's a constant reminder of the team's goal: become the first team in program history to make the state tournament.

“I know we talk about it all the time; we want to be the first, to be able to put 2024 up there," Breinholt said.

The Lightning (8-4) are currently the No. 7 team in Class 2A. Breinholt has earned a team-high 13 goals with two assists this season.

Her performance is a product of her hard work and her passion for the game, which originated at around 5 years old.

Breinholt’s parents wanted her to become active in sports, so they enrolled her in activities like dance and basketball. But soccer quickly captured Breinholt's interest.

“I remember it was the only sport that I felt naturally good at," Breinholt said. "The first time I was on the field I remember dribbling through all these people and scoring goals and I just wanted to continue to do that.”

Breinholt wanted to keep improving so her parents signed her up for a boys team where she said she developed toughness, a trait that she carried over to high school.

“It definitely taught me how to be tough," Breinholt said. "They play a way faster, way more aggressive version of soccer. It’s two very different styles when you play a girls team versus a boys team.”

Breinholt played soccer in Iowa and her home state of Arizona before joining Liberty for the 2022 season. She was Liberty's second-leading scorer in her first two seasons. As a freshman, she tallied 11 goals and 10 assists. As a sophomore, she scored 10 goals with 10 assists.

For Breinholt, the game goes beyond individual statistics or glamour. Instead, her style is centered around a team-first mentality.

Whether it’s being the first and last person to show up at practice or setting up soccer equipment, she’s always looking to support her teammates in multiple ways.

Breinholt’s freshman teammate Allie Hunter praised her for her support and guidance during her first year on the team.

“When she sees someone down on themselves or stressed, she’s the first person to run and pick them up,” Hunter said. “Before tryouts even started for high school, I went to her and she told me,’ There’s nothing to be nervous about, play how you always play; be yourself and the best will come for you’. She’s just good at uplifting everybody.”

The Liberty midfielder has been a regular contributor since her freshman year, but she’s taken her game to the next level this season.

Not only have her playmaking abilities made a difference, but her leadership has taken a step above since earning the role of team captain as a junior.

“This year, I’ve seen such a huge growth in her and some of it is just coming out of her shell. Some of it is she’s getting a little bit older and she knows her role as a captain on the team now,” said Liberty coach Frank Fiordellisi. “I see her every day interacting with her teammates; she’s always positive, she’s very encouraging.”

The hours dedicated on the field coupled with team bonding off the field has benefited the team's chemistry.

“We really feel like a family, we’re so bonded with all of each other. There’s been no drama, we’ve all been connected with each other,” Breinholt said. “We’re all supporting each other, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the bench, if you played the whole game, people are cheering for you, supporting you…and it just feels so great.”

Breinholt also competes for FC United's U17 team, a youth soccer club based in Cedar Rapids.

Her dream is to play college soccer after high school, but she wants to leave a lasting legacy with the Lightning in her final two seasons.

“Ultimately, I just want to go through the season and know that I did everything I can and I want to step off the field and know that I left everything out there,” Breinholt said.

Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com, and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Liberty soccer star Rilyn Breinholt focused on state tournament goals