The King’s Fork High School girls’ soccer team is ready for the 4A state tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs have had a successful week preparing for their semifinals game today against Jefferson Forest High School. Much of their preparation has been conditioning.

If the Lady Bulldogs win today they turn around and play again tomorrow.

So Lady Bulldogs coach Mike Marston has been making sure his team is physically conditioned to make a run at a state title. They have scouted their opponent from a technical standpoint, as well.

Marston and his staff have come up with a solid game plan that will put the Lady Bulldogs in the best position to be successful.

King’s Fork’s players have had their fun enjoying their accomplishment. On their bus ride home from Hanover High School last Thursday, the team celebrated. By the time the weekend hit, they were already focused and dialed in on what needed to be done for a state title.

“The girls were enthusiastic,” Marston said. “We knew that was our best chance to embrace what we had done. Shortly after that, we refocused on the task at hand.”

Regardless of the opponent they face Friday — and possibly on Saturday — the Lady Bulldogs know there are things they have to do. They want to continue to force teams into mistakes and allow their athleticism to show on counterattacks.

“We are going to have to play smart and let the ball do most of the work,” Marston said. “We have to take advantage of opportunities when they are presented. We don’t want to get swept up in the moment and burn ourselves out.”

All the players are experiencing the state tournament for the first time, except for senior Cydney Nichols, who reached the 4A state level just three months ago with the girls’ basketball team.

The Lady Bulldogs fell inches away from a state title, and Nichols has since used that to fuel her for her soccer opportunity.

“To be able to have another chance at this is a blessing,” Nichols said. “It has motivated me to do whatever it takes for this team to win.”

The King’s Fork community is behind the Lady Bulldogs. It has been a historic year for girls’ sports at the school, with two teams having made state tournaments, and nearly a third from the softball team.

Marston and the Lady Bulldogs trust each other and are ready to bring a title home. The team just had seven players named to the All Region teams.

King’s Fork plays at Roanoke College today at noon.