There are two games left in the regular season and Washington’s girls’ soccer team has already clinched the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship. The Lady Pack is a perfect 6-0 in the league heading into next week’s games at North Pitt and North Johnston.

No. 2 Beddingfield has been the girls’ best competition in the conference. They upended Beddingfield, which is led by seven seniors, twice this season by a combined 5-2 score. Other than a scrappy game against North Pitt earlier in the season, there haven’t been too many teams to challenge Washington.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about how the campaign has unfolded is the level of maturity of a team that has just four upperclassmen. They’ve improved on last year’s team, which finished undefeated in conference, despite being much younger.

“Even with the new girls, we have managed to play good defense in conference,” said coach Ed Rodriguez. Washington has conceded just four goals in six conference games this season.

“We’re actually a little better than last year. Even though we’re younger, we’re giving up about half the goals. Our scoring is coming up. We have a good mixture of girls up front who seem to be working good together. It’s a lot of teamwork happening.”

Balance and teamwork have been the driving force for Washington. The team has evolved both offensively and defensively throughout the season to become the formidable group it is now.

“I’m not surprised because I thought we had the potential,” Rodriguez said. “It has been a little surprising in the way that … now it seems like we’ve grown more than we should have. It seems like we’re a year ahead. We got better quicker than I thought we would.”

Rodriguez chalks the drastic improvements to his coaching staff and the girls’ passion for the game.

The Lady Pack’s offense has arguably evolved most. It was potent even early on thanks to freshman Berenice Chavez, among others.

“Berenice is a good player. She knows how to time herself well,” Rodriguez said. “That, sometimes, is difficult for players to do. Some think they have to get there as fast as possible. The timing makes a big difference. That’s helped a lot.”

Chavez’s ability to make plays and finish them powered the Lady Pack’s attack early on, but now the offense is getting contributions from all over. Jordan Prescott and Sydney Edwards lead the team in scoring with 19 and 18 goals, respectively. Chavez and Sydney Walker have each found the back of the net 13 times, too. Edwards and Chavez have combined to assist on 30 of the team’s 74 goals.

“This is only Jordan’s second year ever playing soccer and she’s leading the conference in scoring,” Rodriguez said. “Sydney Walker, it’s her second year and she’s doubled what she scored last year.”

They’ve all become consistent contributors on offense, but Washington has also found scoring elsewhere when it needed it. Sophomore defender Anna Frisbie scored the game-winning goal on a corner kick in a 2-1 win over Beddingfield on April 21.

“When you have defenders scoring your winning goals, that takes pressure off of somebody else,” Rodriguez said.

With the team’s relative inexperience, improving on set pieces has been a focal point on offense. Free kicks and corner kicks are opportunities to create chances, which are oftentimes hard to come across — especially in the playoffs.

“Berenice does a good job placing them,” Rodriguez said. “Thing No. 1 is getting them in the right area. Thing No. 2 is running in and getting them. Getting to the ball is getting better. We’ve had more goals this year, I think, off of corners (than in past years). … Everybody is making contributions.”

Washington has also converted on every penalty kick since missing its very first of the year.

Despite such a dominant season and the girls playing beyond their years, many of them now prepare for unfamiliar territory in the playoffs. Instead of that being a source of apprehension, they are excited to make their foray into the postseason.

By winning the conference, Washington is guaranteed at least one home game. The Lady Pack is undefeated at home this season, so that bodes well for their early-round success.