Mention its road up to this point and prior accomplishments, and its players spoke with pride. But mention its upcoming opponent, Susquenita, or ask of its semifinal expectations, and they were all business, mentally prepared for the next cog in their path to the goal they’ve been striving towards for years.

“We just want to win and go to the state finals,” said junior Addie Burns when asked about the team’s expectations heading into Monday.

“We’re always looking forward to the next thing,” said senior Sydney Thompson on the team following the win. “We like to stay in the moment, but we’ve been here. We’ve been to the semis four times and we’re all looking towards actually winning the state championship this year.”

On three separate occasions, that goal has narrowly escaped their grasp.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express BEA’s Sydney Thompson passes the ball to the infield during last Thursday’s 4-1 win over St. Mary’s in the PIAA Class AAA softball quarters.

In the current senior class’s first stint together, the team made a surprise run to the PIAA Class AAA semifinals before falling to eventual 2022 state champion Avonworth. The following season, with more experience under their belts, they took it one step further in Class AA, making it to the final and coming one win short of that coveted title. And in their most recent campaign, they lost in heartbreaking fashion to South Williamsport, two steps away from a championship.

It doesn’t quite take away from what they’ve accomplished together on their way here. But as Thompson said, they’ve been here before. In the seniors’ final run together, they don’t want to settle for a tie for third or a runner-up finish.

They want it all.

“This is our last chance as seniors, and we’ve all been doing it together for the past four years,” said right fielder Alexa Baney on the prospect. “We just want to come out on top to finish.”

“We’ve been so close every year, and it would just be a major accomplishment for not just the seniors to finally get it done, but for all of us to finally get the job done,” said catcher Kailey Eckert after the team won its district title. “I really think we will.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area’s Alexa Baney, left, and Raelee Repasky, right, prepare to retake the field during Thursday’s state quarterfinal win over St. Mary’s.

Those prior losses stung, sure. But they’ve also provided the Eagles with plenty of ammunition when it comes to motivation and growth.

They don’t want to be reminded of the pain they’ve experienced the past three seasons. Those defeats have inspired them to work even harder than before, from the offseason to practice and competition.

And in Class AAA, there aren’t many teams that can match the level of experience this team has attained in dealing with this amount of pressure. Bald Eagle Area (21-3) has battled the best of the best on the grand stage on numerous occasions. And for the senior class, they head into their final week with the program as prepared as they’ve ever been.

“I think it’s just the energy, and we just need to be confident, not cocky as a team,” said Thompson on the keys to finishing their run on top.

“To just keep your composure, stay together as a team,” said Burns on what they’re focusing on. “Have each other’s backs and work together.”

The time has come, as the Eagles prepare for one ‘moment of truth’ game in hopes of reaching another. The question to the start the week is, where will they stand come tomorrow? The next is dependent on the answer to the first.