      (Blacksburg/WSLS)-The Blacksburg girls are the defending 3A state champs and they are quickly becoming a mirror image of their male counterparts. Another year brings another playoff appearance. Monday the Lady Bruins hosted Spotswood in the 3A West regional quarterfinals.
     "When we're home and playing in front of our parents and the boys team, we want to be able to show we can put on a quality soccer game and really deliver," explains Blacksburg girls coach Travis Eschenmann.
       Deliver they did.  They served up a 3-nothing shutout to advance in the playoffs.  The victory puts them at 39 consecutive wins, a state record.  But for the team, numbers don't matter, except the ones on the scoreboard."
 says junior defender Eden-Elizabeth Phillips.
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     "There's a little bit of rivalry between guys and girls.  We give them their respect, they have won 12 state championships.  We just want to prove the girls team is here and we think we did that last year," says Phillips.
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      Mackenzie Williams, senior midfielder, concurs. "We try not to let that be something we focus on, more we just want to come out every day and not worry about the win streak."
     The Bruins have no plans on going into hibernation. The boys look for their 13th state title, the girls are in the hunt for a repeat. The girls take on an undefeated Lord Botetourt team on Wednesday in the Regional semifinals.
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