McKenna Miller, a junior on Burrell High School’s soccer team, admits that this season had its share of ups and downs.

Some of the downs included some mid-season losses and injuries. But the biggest up was Friday — for the first time in school history, the team is playing in the Class 2A state championship against Archbishop Wood at Northeastern York High School in Manchester.

“We’ll play anyone who’s in front of us,” said McKenna, one of three team captains. “I think that shows the team culture, that we fight, and we’re in a state final.”

About 50 people gathered at the Burrell Plaza parking lot Friday morning to cheer the team on as it headed to York with a police and fire escort. Students at Bon Air Elementary and Charles A. Huston Middle schools also went outside to show the team support as it headed down Leechburg Road; Bon Air students held a pep rally on Thursday.

Two fan buses carrying about 100 people total were also headed to York later in the day. The community support is motivating, McKenna said.

“We’re a small school, too, so it means more when people in the community are with us,” said Mikayla Coury, a senior and team captain.

What sets the team apart, both players and parents said, is the bond the girls have.

The state championship run is extra special, said team captain and junior Parker Moore, because most of the team has been playing together since they were in kindergarten.

“To get to have these experiences together, that makes it so much more special,” Mikayla said.

Tyffanee Moore, mother of Parker and sophomore Kinlee Moore, agrees.

“These girls work so hard,” Tyffanee said. “They’ve played together for so long and they never quit. The backing of the community is amazing — the posts you see, the texts you get — it’s a core memory in the making.”

The resiliency of the team through its ups and downs has been impressive to Bill Coury, Mikayla’s father. Watching Mikayla’s journey from her freshman year until now has made him proud.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “In the long run, it made the team better. Sports teach life lessons.”

Tameka Buchak, mother of junior Makiah and freshman Mylah, said it’s rewarding to see both daughters on the field and contribute to the team’s success. In the first round WPIAL playoff game against Belle Vernon, Mylah fed Makiah the ball and Makiah scored the game’s only goal, leading Burrell to a 1-0 victory.

“That was amazing to me,” Tameka said. “I thought I saw it all then, and we keep going on.”

The captains said they’ve cherished the experiences and bonds they’ve made throughout their soccer careers.

“The whole playoff run, we set high expectations. We wanted to take the next step and keep making history,” Mikayla said. “Winning these state playoff games has been exciting.”

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