Springwood Soccer Teams Advance to AISA Final Four

Boys' and girls' squads seek state championships this week in Montgomery.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the abstracted forms of soccer players in motion, using overlapping planes of deep blues, greens, and reds to capture the dynamic action of the sport.Springwood's soccer teams reach new heights with historic Final Four runs, capturing the raw energy and competitive spirit of the beautiful game.Montgomery Today

Both the Springwood Wildcats boys' and girls' soccer teams have advanced to the AISA Final Four this week in Montgomery, Alabama. The boys' team is undefeated at 15-0 and seeking the program's first state title, while the girls' squad has already broken the school record for most wins in a season and is also vying for its first championship.

Why it matters

Springwood's success on the pitch this season has generated significant excitement in the community, with both teams having a chance to make history by capturing state titles. The school's new head coach, Taylor O'Neill, has credited the administration, assistant coaches, and players for the teams' remarkable runs.

The details

The Wildcats boys' team will face Fort Dale on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT, while the Lady Wildcats take on Evangel (Alabaster) at 11 a.m. CT. The boys' closest game this season was a 2-0 win against reigning state champion Ezekiel, while the girls broke the school record for most wins in a season at 9-4 after a dominant 5-0 victory over East Central in the Elite Eight.

  • The AISA Final Four matches will take place on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • The Springwood boys' team is 15-0 heading into the Final Four.
  • The Springwood girls' team is 9-4 and has broken the school record for most wins in a season.

The players

Taylor O'Neill

The new head coach of the Springwood soccer teams, who has credited the school's administration, assistant coaches, and players for the teams' success this season.

Ellie Wolfe

A player on the Springwood girls' soccer team, who scored a goal in the team's 5-0 win over East Central in the Elite Eight.

Kate McSpadden

A player on the Springwood girls' soccer team, who scored a goal in the team's 5-0 win over East Central in the Elite Eight.

Luna Garcia

A player on the Springwood girls' soccer team, who scored a goal in the team's 5-0 win over East Central in the Elite Eight.

Joey Burch

The athletic director at Springwood School, who has supported the soccer teams' success this season.

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What they’re saying

“The people at the school, the athletic director Coach (Joey) Burch, (Head of School Allyson) Matthews and countless more, have made it so good for me so that I could just focus on the coaching side of things and they kind of look after a lot of everything else. So, I've not really had to worry with too much behind-the-scenes stuff, since I'm still learning the job and everything like that.”

— Taylor O'Neill, Head Coach

“As much as I'd love to say, 'Yeah, it's my tactics, I'm a great coach,' it's not me. It's the players. I tell them the lineup every week, I put them in positions, I work on things with them, but at the end of the day it's them stepping on the field, those guys decide how much they want to win. So, I can't give enough credit to both teams. They both have incredible seasons up to now, but I don't think either team would be happy with how well they've done if we lose tomorrow or even Friday.”

— Taylor O'Neill, Head Coach

“My assistant coaches have been absolutely amazing this season and really, really helped me out. All the players love the assistant coaches. They work just as hard as I do to make sure that we have the success that we're having.”

— Taylor O'Neill, Head Coach

What’s next

The Springwood boys' and girls' soccer teams will compete in the AISA Final Four on Thursday, April 17, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama. The boys will face Fort Dale at 1 p.m. CT, while the girls will take on Evangel (Alabaster) at 11 a.m. CT. The winners of those matches will advance to the state championship games on Friday.

The takeaway

Springwood's remarkable soccer seasons have generated immense pride and excitement in the community, with both the boys' and girls' teams having the opportunity to make history by capturing their first-ever state championships. The school's new head coach, Taylor O'Neill, has credited the entire Springwood community for supporting the teams and creating an environment that has allowed the players to thrive.