The Marist Girls Soccer team is in the midst of another great season.  The Lady War Eagles are right now 16-0-1 on the season,  ranked number one in Class AAAA, and pursuing a 9th state championship in school history.

One of the reasons Marist is cruising right along is the play of the team’s goal keeper, Courtney Peters.  The senior net minder has been a model of patience and then a model of excellence making the most of her time on the pitch.  Courtney played behind another goal tender who was a year older earlier in her varsity career, so she is making the most of her one year in the spotlight, her one year in the starting lineup, her one senior season to shine.

“I learned a lot while waiting my turn to play.  I am excited about my senior year and giving my all for this team as we try to attain all our goals.”

Courtney is one of six seniors on this Marist team who have provided a lot of leadership for the younger players. “All six of us have been playing together since our freshman year. We work well together to help unify this team, not individually, but as a group of six seniors,  trying to show the way by example.”

Coach Chandler Yount is very proud of his goal keeper who has allowed just six goals this year. “She waited three long years behind a good older goalie. She is humble, a joy to be around. She has a calming influence among the players and it is an honor to have her on this team.”

One of the reasons Courtney may be a calming influence is that she is the team chaplain.  Courtney says that role includes leading the team in pre-practice prayer and being a player any teammate can approach to talk about anything that concerns them.

The Marist Girl’s soccer team has a great tradition of excellence winning 8 state titles in 1997, 2001-2003-04-08-09-2013 and 2014.  The War Eagles are ranked number one right now with an excellent shot at winning number 9 in 2016.  “No doubt there is a target on our back.  We just need to focus on each game we play and make the most of every opportunity that we have,” says Courtney.

And how about if that dream comes true and these six seniors go out with a state title in May.

“It would be the perfect way to end the soccer season and my soccer career. We have all worked very hard and it would be something special to leave behind as a legacy, a state title this year.”

Courtney is right now trying to decide her next step.  She has excellent grades and is the Marist High School class  salutatorian  and is narrowing her college choices between Virginia, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt.  She is thinking of pursuing a degree in business.

Coach Yount says it best. “ She is a joy to be around.  She is very coachable and she brings to the game exactly what you want as a coach.  She is a true team player”

So for Courtney and her teammates there is one more game to go in the regular season and then  the March to Macon begins, the playoffs kick off, and the quest for another title gets underway.  One thing is for sure, not much is going to get by Courtney Peters.  And when you are a goalie,  that’s a good thing.