Fantastic freshmen, now super sophomores ready to lead Walsh Jesuit girls soccer yet again

There are always expectations when you play for the Walsh Jesuit girls soccer team.

But when you’re 14 years old ready for your first season with the Warriors and come in with a lot of fanfare, those hopes can be a little much.

Hannah Pachan and Reagan Pentz hit the ground running last season as ninth graders and they haven’t stopped yet.

It certainly wasn’t the case a season ago when the dynamos helped Walsh to the state finals en route to a runner-up Division I finish.

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“It was a lot to take coming in,” Pachan said. “I was 14 years old playing with 18 year olds I’ve never played with, but the girls were really welcoming. They gave me confidence and that helped me to lead and talk more on the field. I just grew and grew and grew and grew.

“It’s all fun. I grew up playing soccer. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. I had to be open to more ideas with a new coach, but nothing really dramatic changed.”

That is except their scoring line, which flourished under first-year coach Javier Iriart.

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Pachan scored 24 goals and had five assists from her right midfielder spot.

Pentz scored 17 goals and had 21 assists as a midfielder.

A lot of that had to do with raw talent, but just as much had to do with the fact the two learned under 10 seniors, who already knew the culture despite having a new coach in the fold.

“I’ve been around the team growing up with my sister here,” said Pentz, whose sister Morgan played for the Warriors. “I may have been a little more comfortable than Hannah and my other freshman friends who may not have known the culture or the environment. Having an idea of what it’s like was helping. The people on the team are amazing, they’re always helpful, they’re always wanting the best for you. Once you realize they’re always there to help you it takes all the stress off of you.”

The Warriors won nine in a row to start 2021 before Strongsville got them in a 2-1 road loss.

The next loss (1-0 to Chagrin Falls) didn’t come until the last game of the regular season, but they used to ride the momentum into the finals.

“I had no idea about them,” Iriart said. “Everything was brand new to me, so to say I planned around them is untrue. We had a system in mind and that they could complement the way we could play. Because they were that good they thrived and found a way to express their individuality that made sense for the team and allowed themselves to play free and that benefitted us.”

Unfortunately, the glass slipper broke in a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame and an 11th state title didn’t come home.

New season brings same goal

As you might expect there were tears on the field, but determination on the bus.

“I was thankful we always stayed together,” Pachan said. “We never fell apart. When we were on the bus afterwards we were still singing our song. It felt better afterwards.

“We always have that fire under us from that game. We never want to feel that way again. We use Mount Notre Dame all the time.”

As this season starts heating up, Walsh has turned the page and is gearing up for what it hopes is a new run with their two sophomore sensations.

Pachan came into the season willing to work and show the coaching staff what she was capable of. She didn’t act like they knew her, and her game grew even more.

Pentz came out of the gate determined to keep an already solid legacy strong.

“Coming in as a freshman, you really don’t have all the expectations,” Pentz said. “Just proving everyone wrong was fun. It’s very comforting knowing how safe you feel within the team. Everyone wants the best. You’re willing to do anything for your teammates and that’s where I think the success comes.”

Where Walsh is different comes in its regular-season prep. Although the Warriors view the regular season as important, they don’t hang on wins and losses, which is why the 1-2-1 start doesn’t loom large for a team that wants to challenge itself in preparation for the postseason.

Every coach dreams of an environment where players can express their individuality within the confines of the game, and the Warriors have that.

What they do with that remains to be seen, but expect Pachan, Pentz and Co. to thrive with two proven leaders already in the system.

“There were zero expectations for us last year, so making it to the third or fourth game may have been surprising to some people,” Pentz said. “You’re not expected to win so when you do there’s that amazing feeling of let’s prove them wrong. Then it’s let’s do it again. Let’s do it again. That was the mentality going into the playoffs.”

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: A well-seasoned Pentz and Pachan ready to lead Warriors back to finals