The attacker blitzes through the last line of defense. The only thing keeping her from launching the ball to the back of the net is Senior Bailey Hillbrand. The striker hits the top of the box as Hillbrand gets into her goalie stance. 

Hillbrand starts at goalkeeper for the varsity girls soccer team. She’s played soccer for most of her life. 

“I’ve been playing for about 15 years,” Hillbrand said. “I’d say it’s been a rough ride for a while, but it ends up playing out in the end.”

Hillbrand signed with Blue River to play soccer for Metropolitan Community College and major in science agriculture. Junior Kaia Duncan believes Hillbrand has powerful guidance for the team.

“She’s a strong leader,” Duncan said. “She’s like, very direct when she’s like, talking to the team and she helps direct the team.”

Hillbrand finished her final high school season with 10 total shutouts and 6 shutouts in a row. The Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Coaches named her to the 1st Team All Conference Team. Freshman McKenna Simons fancies Hillbrand’s goalie skills.

“Bailey is a phenomenal goalie,” Simons said. “She’s recorded probably 8 or 9 shutouts this year so we really put a lot of trust in her.”

The soccer team finished the regular season undefeated and had an overall record of 15-1 thanks to Hilbrands strong defense. However, her career goal is to work in agriculture to to help others in that line of work. Hillbrand will miss hanging out with the team after graduation.

“I will definitely miss the team bonding,” Hillbrand said. “Getting to know the girls personally and getting to hang out with them day to day for practices.”

The attacker targets the lower right corner of the goal which was anticipated by Hillbrand who dives to intercept the ball. Laying on the ground with the ball in her clutches the crowd roars in amazement as she stands and then punts the ball away.