Mountain Brook goalkeeper Laine Minich has been a brick wall around the net all season and capped a perfect playoff run with another shutout in helping lead the top-ranked Spartans to a 2-0 victory over No. 5 Briarwood Christian in Saturday’s Class 6A title match at Huntsville’s John Hunt Park.

Mountain Brook (15-3-4) secured the fifth championship in program history — the first in more than a decade — after winning titles in 1994, 1995, 2008 and 2013 and finishing runner-up to Oak Mountain during the 2014 season.

“It took all of us buying in and we knew it was going to take the full 80 minutes and it did,” Mountain Brook coach Adam Johnson said. “Briarwood was the real test for us, they were the real challenge. It’s cliche to say it was a team effort but it took all 24 of us trusting in each other and playing for each other. We tell the girls you don’t play for yourself, you play for your sisters.”

The Spartans did not allow a single goal during their four-game playoff run, outscoring opponents 22-0 on their way to a fifth Blue Map. They did so with a relatively young team devoid of seniors and employing only three juniors.

“You’re not going to believe me, but I knew in August,” Johnson said. “I knew it was a special group just seeing them be together and hang out together. They cared about each other. It was clear they enjoyed doing the work and enjoyed doing it together.”

Mountain Brook turned in another impressive defensive performance and shut out the Lions despite allowing 15 total shots and four shots on goal. The Spartans took 16 totals shots, seven on goal, and played a relatively clean game with only six fouls called. Briarwood Christian’s Catherine Walker and Sophia Stubbs combined for five saves while each allowed a goal.

Minich was named MVP for two shutout performances in the state tournament and had six saves between each match. She allowed only eight goals all season with four coming in play, three on penalty kicks and one on a free kick.

“We’ve worked for this so hard and really harped on defense,” Minich said. “We made sure we were tight and connected with such a young team. Every goal is something I learn from and I have so much to learn. Every game that there’s no goal, I’ve done my job.”

Both of Mountain Brook’s goals came on penalty kicks with sophomore Sophie Hicks giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute of the match. Hicks also had a goal and an assist in the Spartans’ semifinal win over Athens.

“It feels so great and this team is so awesome,” Hicks said. “We’re all best friends and it feels surreal to be in this moment with my favorite people in the entire world.”

The Spartans added their second goal in the 45th minute on a penalty kick from Langston Lilly, who earned the sixth hat trick of her career two weeks ago in a win against two-time defending champion Homewood.

“We’re so excited because this is the same team we’re going to have next year,” Lilly said. “We’re trying to build a legacy here. This is my third year playing Mountain Brook soccer and my favorite season by far. Not just winning a state championship but the atmosphere we have here. Yes, we’re young, but we’ve become a family and sisters. This starts a new legacy at Mountain Brook and we’re building something awesome.”