It didn’t take Lee-Scott Academy long to make a statement as an AHSAA program.

In their first season at a new classification, the Warriors claimed the Class 1A-3A girls soccer championship on Friday with a 3-2 victory over Madison Academy on penalty kicks at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

While it’s the first AHSAA crown for Lee-Scott, it marks the second overall title; the Warriors won an AISA girls soccer title in 2021.

“They played way out of their mind,” Lee-Scott coach Eric Faison said of his team. “They didn’t give up, and I was scared, I was nervous, but our girls, they just didn’t give up. They grinded and they had nothing left. I mean, they had nothing left.”

Tied 2-2 after regulation and two overtime periods, Lee-Scott eighth-grader Charlee Huddleston provided the final play of the season with a made penalty kick to give the Warriors the victory.

Her mindset at the moment?

“I was just doing it for my seniors,” she smiled.

“They are so sweet. I love them so much and I just wanted them to win one last state championship.”

Lee-Scott’s pair of seniors — Scarlett Wood and Delaney Faison — are among those who bring a strong sense of chemistry to a strong Lee-Scott team looking to contend again next season.

“The reason they win is because they love each other and they give everything for each other,” Faison said. “You get some chemistry like that and that outplays talent any day. That’s what they have.”

Zarah McGreer and Emerson Mills both added goals for Lee-Scott, while Regan Boyd scored for Madison Academy in the first half and Emma Olson had a goal with 4:54 left to play as the matchup went into overtime.

Boyd had a game-high 4 shots on goal, while Lee-Scott freshman AJ Spillman led the Warriors with 3. Spillman also claimed Class 1A-3A tournament MVP as she provided the lone goal in a 1-0 semifinal win over Houston Academy.

“Everyone’s just so supportive and just so nice,” Huddleston said of the culture within the program. “It’s just really a good environment.”

Faison prided his players on embracing their roles this season and sticking together, adding that the mindset guided his team to the success it had.

“It’s a big deal. I love the facilities, and that this is such a big deal,” Faison said. “To win it our first year in AHSAA is special.

“This feels like a big-time thing.”