The Aberdeen Central girls’ soccer squad has gotten off to stellar start and Brianna Fischer has played a major role in it.

The senior has scored 12 goals in seven victories so far this season, including four goals in one game alone.

“I definitely didn’t see it coming at the beginning for year, have that many this early,” Fischer said of her goal total. “I’ve definitely been in the right place for most of them. Just everyone working on the field helps with giving me the opportunity to shoot and score.”

Fischer has always possessed the speed and athleticism, and now she is finding ways to finish in front of the opponents’ net.

“The ‘ah-ha’ moment has arrived and it’s fun for everyone to watch. The runs, the finishing, the understanding that it’s not about setting up the perfect shot, but taking the shot,” said Central coach Kendra Hanley. “The importance of understanding you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

Fischer has a unique way of finding a way to get into scoring position without alerting defenders that she is prepared to strike.

“When they’re crossing in, we’ve always been told to crash the net,” Fischer said, “so I just do that in hopes that it gets past them.”

She has scored multiple goals this season where she managed to slip through the defense to get a ball into the back of the net.

“I think the defenders just don’t expect it,” Fischer said. “They just think that the person with the ball is just going to shoot it, and it will either go out or their goalie will get it, so they don’t expect someone to run in front of them.”

Fischer is one of multiple scoring options for the unbeaten Golden Eagles. She said that allows her more scoring opportunities.

“I definitely think that we have good options up at the top and even the people that sub in for us are really aggressive,” Fischer said, “and it’s helping us get more shots off and goals.”

Fischer has developed a sense of knowing when to attack this season and the results are evident.

“She was always fast,” Hanley said, “but learning how to time the run and how to make specific runs to stay onsides has been something that has clicked.”

While Fischer has already racked up a dozen goals in half a season, she has also accumulated five assists, showing she is an unselfish player.

“Well, it’s always nice scoring a goal,” Fischer said, “but getting an opportunity to help someone do it is even better.”

Fischer said that soccer involves a strong mental component to go along with the physical nature of the sport. That mindset will be needed as the Golden Eagles start playing two games in three days heading into the back half of the season.

“There’s definitely a big mental (side), especially now we’re getting into playing Tuesdays and Thursdays, being able to bounce back fast after a game and to go play another one,” Fischer said. “You really have to have the mental stability to be able to do that, because your body can be perfectly fine, but if you’re not in it, you won’t do as well as you want to.”

Fischer talked about ways to practice and work on that mental element.

“It definitely helps if you have ways to calm yourself down, and motivate yourself,” she said, “and even having people to motivate you can definitely help.”

When asked who helps her in the process, Fischer responded, “The whole team does, because you want to do your best for not just yourself but the whole team, so they motivate me to always keep going.”

Central will put its unbeaten record on the line this evening when its hosts fellow unbeaten Harrisburg at 6 p.m. Fischer and the Golden Eagles understand the task at hand.

“We all know that they’re always tough. They’re four (time) state champs for reason,” Fischer said. “But we all watch film. We all understand how they play.”

While there is still plenty soccer left to be played, the Golden Eagles already have some goals in mind.

“We’ve definitely had the talk of playoffs and wanting to go as far as we can,” Fischer said. “We haven’t really gotten as far as we usually do for the past couple of years, so if we just keep working at it, that’s what our goal is to get as far as we can.”

Look for Fischer to be out in front leading the charge to help that goal come to fruition.

“Her drive is at 100 % and her teammates thrive on the energy,” Hanley said. “She, among others on the team, are definitely ‘all gas, no brakes’ as the girls say.”

Fischer understands that Central has a rich history in the sport of girls’ soccer, with the likes of Taryn Hettich (South Dakota State), and Deshani Peters and Kailyn Poppen (Northern State) currently playing at the collegiate level.

For Fischer and the rest of the Golden Eagles, they have an opportunity to keep that legacy strong.

“It’s nice how those three players, the team they were on, they all made our team be known by everyone,” Fischer said. “Aberdeen is known for players like that. It can be challenging having to live up to it, but also it’s rewarding knowing that you can do it.”