Cincinnatus has reportedly won four consecutive Section III titles and reached the state semifinals in each of the last four seasons. The program’s recent run includes state championships in 2023 and 2025, giving this group a clear standard to match.
The report says Payton Landers and Kendall Sustad scored three goals apiece in the final regular-season game, while Cincinnatus led 7-0 at halftime. Yet the bigger strength may be the continuity within the squad.
Nine seniors are reportedly preparing for their final postseason together, with many having played alongside one another since youth soccer. Turshman highlighted that shared history, saying, “Estamos trabalhando juntas e melhoramos desde o começo da temporada. O esforço desse grupo aparece dentro e fora de campo.”
Landers also pointed to the connection that has carried Cincinnatus through another dominant campaign: “Sempre jogamos bem juntas. Também trabalhamos bem juntas na escola. A conexão existe desde o início.”
That unity could prove vital when matches become tighter. The report says Cincinnatus has already experienced disappointment in the state tournament, including semifinal exits in 2022 and 2024. Those setbacks remain part of the team’s postseason education.
Sustad, however, is resisting any temptation to look too far ahead. “Entramos em cada jogo sabendo que há coisas a melhorar. Precisamos manter o foco e não pensar muito à frente,” she said.
The Section III Class D playoffs now offer Cincinnatus another chance to turn an unbeaten campaign into a championship finish. The next fixture will reveal whether this experienced group can handle the pressure of being the team everyone wants to beat.