A year ago, the Eisenhower girls soccer team went into the postseason riding a huge wave of momentum.

The Lady Knights had turned a 5-11-1 team into one with a 14-4 record and were scoring goals at a torrid pace.

They walked onto the field at Greenville High School somewhat nervous, but confident in their ability to get a win. They knew the opponent, Mercer, would be a tough out.

The Mustangs proved every bit as tough as advertised. Though the Lady Knights held a 2-0 lead late into the second half, thanks to goals from Leah Peterson and Lydia Giannini, but Mercer got one goal with just under 15 minutes to play and peppered the Eisenhower net with shots through the final five minutes.

The Lady Knights got a stellar performance from Rachel Frederick, Hope Hefright and Ellie Strausser, and somehow an even better one from keeper Faith Johnson.

The defense weathered the strom to send Eisenhower on.

Today, almost exactly one year later, the Lady Knights will again head to Greenville for a first round playoff match with Mercer. The Mustangs came to Eisenhower Sept. 15 and left with a 4-1 victory.

This year, Eisenhower doesn’t have quite the momentum it did in 2017 as the Lady Knights finished with a 6-8-1 regular season record. However, after battling back from a 3-goal deficit to earn a 4-4 tie with Seneca on Oct. 10, Eisenhower has seemed to turn a corner. They followed that with shutout wins over Maplewood and Cambridge Springs before losing 1-0 at both Iroquois and Port Allegany to close the season.

The Lady Knights still boast scoring power with forwards Caroline Smelko, Peterson, Aleea Giese, Giannini and Madison Mohney, plus an extra boost from attacking defensemen Patricia Bortz and Aniela Gesing. Eisenhower also still has that defense corps of Frederick, Hefright and Strausser.

Johnson is also back in net, though she’s battled through injuries this season. Katie Elmquist has proven capable in relief.

Mercer comes in with a 12-5-1 record, though after winning eight straight, the Mustangs closed the year by going 4-4-1. Peyton Miller leads the team in goals (6) and assists (5), while Darby Miller and Julia Balaski each have five goals on the year.

Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.