Long journey paying off for Dock Mennonite seniors ahead of PIAA soccer championship

They sure made it look easy.

6-0, 4-0 and 4-0.

Those are the scores the Dock Mennonite girls soccer team have put up in the PIAA Class 1A state playoffs, and the reason they will be playing Riverview for a state championship on Saturday.

But for senior captains Billinda Leisner and Ashley Lapp, getting to this point has been anything but easy.

From the sideline to the spotlight

This time last year, the Pioneers’ season had already come to an end after falling to Moravian Academy in the first round of the state playoffs.

But Lapp’s season had ended weeks before when she tore her meniscus.

Watching from the sidelines while her team won a District One championship and then lost in the first round of states was difficult for Lapp, but it was nothing compared to the months ahead.

“I had physical therapy every day after school,” said Lapp. “Some days, I thought I couldn't go through it anymore.”

Support and encouragement from her family and friends helped Lapp persevere, and she was able to begin on-field training in the spring.

“My first game back was a tournament game and I was really nervous,” Lapp said.

Nerves are no longer an issue for Lapp.

On Tuesday, the Pioneers (20-1-2) faced Moravian Academy for the second postseason in a row, this time in the semifinals. The game remained scoreless for nearly 60 minutes, until Lapp drilled a free kick into the back of the net for her 19th goal of the season. That seemed to break the ice for her teammates, who scored three goals in the next 20 minutes against their nemesis.

Learning to breathe

For Billinda Leisner, the state championship game is the final stop on an eventful high school career.

Leisner missed time during her sophomore season due to injury, and was out several games last season because of a concussion. And somewhere in between, she was diagnosed with asthma.

“For so long, I thought I was just out of shape,” Leisner said. “I didn’t understand why I wasn’t improving despite training so much.”

Dealing with her diagnosis required both physical and mental changes for Leisner, who will undergo surgery in December to help repair a deviated septum.

“I needed to really focus on breathing, and using the new techniques I had learned,” said Leisner. “I also had to change my mindset and stop telling myself that I was out of shape and at fault.”

Taking charge on and off the field

While Leisner and Lapp were both captains last season, this year, as seniors, they’ve both stepped up in big ways. And their leadership has led to monumental changes for the team.

“Last year we had some negative energy around the team,” said Leisner. “It felt like we gave up anytime we were down, and it didn’t seem like everyone wanted to be here.”

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“This year, everyone is so positive and supportive.”

After Leisner had a sleepless night thinking about the upcoming title game, she made sure to check in with her teammates to make sure they were in the right headspace.

“We have a lot of younger players, and I wanted to make sure they weren’t too nervous,” said Leisner.

Going into the playoffs last year, Leisner and her teammates were drained and had nothing left to give by the time the state tournament rolled around. Leisner took the initiative to discuss the issue with her coaches, and they worked together to develop a schedule that would keep the girls sharp for playoffs.

“That’s one of the biggest differences between last season and this season,” said Leisner. “We are all excited and ready to go Saturday morning.”

Pioneers’ coach Stacey Vaitis-Dubost echoed those sentiments.

“Our recurring phrase that we have focused on throughout the season is that we are "Better Together,”’ Vaitis-Dubost said. “We play for one another and for our school. These girls have focused on self care, their mental health, and learned immensely how to figure out what they need to remain healthy.”

On the field, Leisner has also taken on new challenges. When the Pioneers’ struggled to fill their center midfield position, the forward switched positions to help the team.

While Lapp took a backseat to the team’s senior captains last year, she’s had the opportunity to show her leadership skills this season.

“Team bonding is very important to me,” Lapp said. “We have team dinners, go out for ice cream, sit together at lunch, and have Bible study.”

It’s the team Bible study that Lapp cites as her biggest contribution as a captain.

“I find ways to relate what I’m reading to our team and our games,” Lapp said. “That focus and connection has helped us so much.”

The duo’s impact on the team has reached far beyond the soccer field.

“I am so incredibly proud to be their coach, not just on the field, but watching them influence so many off the field,” Vaitis-Dubost said. “They really are making such a difference and they don't even realize yet.”

One Big Family

Both Lapp and Leisner describe the team as one big happy family.

And for Lapp, that’s not just an expression.

“I love playing with my sister (sophomore Shelby Lapp),” said Lapp. “We’ve scored goals together this year, and that’s something I never thought would happen.”

Leisner also has a soccer-playing sibling – her twin brother Paul plays for Faith Christian. Faith Christian fell to Delco Christian in the semifinals on Tuesday.

“It was a tough loss, but now he’s all about cheering me on,” Leisner said. “He loves to come to our games and really supports us.”

While Leisner is still deciding on which college to attend, there are two things she knows for sure – she will play soccer, and she will study exercise science.

“Dealing with my own injuries was a big influence in choosing that field,” Leisner said.

Lapp plans to major in elementary education and continue playing soccer for an intramural or league team.

For now though, they have just one thing on their mind.

When the girls take the field on Saturday morning in Mechanicsburg, they will have already made history. The squad is the first girls’ team in Dock Mennonite history to play in a state championship game in any sport.

Playing for a state title was a goal for Lapp this year, and she’s going to savor every moment.

“Win or lose, my senior season is done after this,” Lapp said. “I know we have the talent and confidence to win, and I’m just going to enjoy it.”

“This is definitely the strongest team of girls I’ve ever played with,” Leisner said. “It’s 18 girls who are all for one.”

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Dock Mennonite girls soccer ready for PIAA Class 1A championship game