This fall, Mt. Lebanon’s girls soccer team had an outstanding season, finishing 7-4 in section play and advancing to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs. While it may have seemed like any other season to most, for two sisters — senior Lucy Pryor and freshman Scarlett Pryor — it was one they will remember for a lifetime!

Senior captain Lucy Pryor, a four-year varsity player, earned first-team all-section and Big 56 honors her senior year, following a second-team all-section selection as a junior. While her on-field contributions have long stood out, this season was especially meaningful to her.

“This season has meant more to me than any other season I’ve played, partly because my sister was playing right by my side, but also because it was my last season of my soccer career,” Pryor said.

Since freshman year, Pryor said she has worked on changing her mindset, which she credits for helping her grow into a more well-rounded player.

“I have become more confident in my skills, but I have also learned to keep going no matter what,” Pryor said. “If we are losing or winning, playing the first-ranked team in the section or the worst-ranked team, I will always play my hardest and leave everything on the field. Part of this stems from the fact that those games were my last few games of my life, but also because I wanted to work hard and fight for my team.”

Pryor credits her sister, Scarlett, for being her biggest inspiration and supporter throughout the season. Scarlett, an outstanding player herself, earned all-section honors, Big 56 second-team recognition, and a starting position as just a freshman. She, in turn, credits her sister as her biggest mentor — not only in soccer, but in life.

“Although she didn’t teach me this, when the season ended, I realized how fast things can happen and to make the most of every moment because you never know when it could all end,” Scarlett Pryor said.

To younger players like her sister, Lucy Pryor offers a piece of advice: play for something bigger than yourself.

“Play for a purpose greater than yourself,” Pryor said. “You have to learn how to become selfless when you are part of a team as special as Mt. Lebanon girls soccer.”

Lucy Pryor believes she is who she is today because of the Mt. Lebanon girls soccer program and her head coach, Seth Young.

“I am proud to be part of a team that was able to shape me into the person I am today,” Pryor said. “Coach Seth played a large part in this. I am just really glad to have had him as my coach because he led me to become the player I am today.”

Seth Young, a Mt. Lebanon graduate who went on to play collegiate soccer at Allegheny College, has been the head coach of the girls soccer team since 2019. Both Pryor sisters note that Young prioritizes team bonding. The team has weekly Sunday night dinners, and before every season, they gather at Denny’s at 3 a.m. before sleeping on the turf.

“We are all so close,” Lucy Pryor said. “It truly feels like a family to me, and these traditions we have are what make our bond so special.”

Scarlett Pryor credits her sister for helping make the underclassmen and upperclassmen connection a meaningful one.

“It was nice to know she always has my back,” Pryor said. “She helped not only me to be close with the whole team, but also everyone. She taught me to just enjoy the whole experience.”

Scarlett Pryor also attributes her successful transition to high school soccer to the leadership of the older players.

“The older players prepared me for what practice and games would be like,” Pryor said. “It was very fun to be exposed to high-level players to help me develop as a player myself.”

Scarlett Pryor’s goal for the future is simple: she wants to win a WPIAL championship.

As Lucy Pryor concludes her soccer career and moves on to the next chapter of her life, she plans to carry with her the lessons she learned from Mt. Lebanon girls soccer.

“Soccer has taught me that when things aren’t going your way or aren’t presenting themselves in the manner that you expected, don’t stop working toward your goals or initiatives,” Pryor said. “I am so grateful I got to play alongside my sister, and I will truly miss it so much.”