TERRA CEIA — Surrounded by a bean field on two sides, Terra Ceia’s soccer field is humble, makeshift even, tip-toeing the NCISAA’s minimum standards for dimensions. For nearly 20 years, the program has worked with what it’s had, battling through low numbers and losing records without ever garnering a postseason bid.

For a second-straight season, the Knights are without a conference and continue to play on an undersized field, but there’s nothing small about their ambitions. In a reversal of fortune, Terra Ceia currently sits at 9-0-2 with two games remaining in the regular season. Coach Nate Burns has his team playing sound, cohesive defense, a result of chemistry that’s been years in the making.

“We’re committed to playing defense all over the field and we play together,” Burns said. “These guys are friends, they love each other and it shows on the field. When we get it together, we can pass really well and break down anybody. The chemistry between them is the secret. I have players who want to score, but no one is selfish. They play for each other.”

As the season comes to a conclusion, the Knights’ preseason objective of earning a playoff bid for the first time in program history is becoming closer to a reality. And while the NCISAA selection committee is know to favor teams in competitive conferences, independent Terra Ceia’s undefeated record will be near impossible to overlook.

On Friday, against county rival Unity Christian Academy, the Knights’ midfield maintained possession and controlled the tempo for most of the contest. The Warriors had their chances, spurred by strong play up front from Ryan Kolibabeck and Avery Bowen, Beaufort County’s leading scorer, but a blast off the crossbar was the closest Unity came to a solid attempt on net.

For Burns, who has spent the last couple years building the program, Terra Ceia’s success is simply a productive of hard work and unselfishness.

“It means a lot. I put in a lot of time with these guys,” he said after the game on Thursday, the Knights’ ninth win. “We’ve been through a few losing seasons and a lot of blowouts to get to where we are now. It feels really good. They work very hard and I’m very proud of them.”

Even with the undefeated record, postseason eligibility isn’t guaranteed. Without a conference, Terra Ceia will need to earn an at-large bid by the league in order to qualify. But if the Knights can pull out victories in their final two contests, their resume will be hard for the committee to pass on.

And if the Knights do make the playoffs, a win might be hard to come by. In the area alone, Greenville-based schools like Oakwood, Pope John Paul II and Community Christian continue to field playoff-worthy squads.

“Our expectation is to go undefeated,” Burns said. “We feel like if we give max effort every game and play hard enough we can win. If we win every single game, they can’t keep us out of the playoffs.”

NCISAA Class 1-A playoffs begin in Oct. 24 at the site of the higher seed.