For 13 years Roger Wallace watched as his Pine Creek girls’ lacrosse teams missed the playoffs.

That changed this year. The Eagles advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2002.

“Coming from the girls and the assistant coaches and myself, it was an awesome experience,” said Wallace, The Gazette Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year. “I can tell you it’s a tough road going uphill in regards to trying to get back (to the state tournament) for our program.”

This season the Eagles finished 13-3, their best record since the 2007-2008 season when they finished 14-3, but did not receive an invite to the playoffs.

Pine Creek fell in the first round this year at the state championships after Aspen scored the game-winning goal with four seconds to go.

“We gave everything we had in that game,” Wallace said. “We were also down two players and potentially had the chance to win that game. They left nothing on the field, they had given their all.”

The Eagles’ road to the playoffs consisted of an 11-game win streak dating back to last season and a win over Air Academy, a team Pine Creek had not defeated in eight previous seasons and only one other time in Wallace’s 16 seasons.

The Eagles will return a lot of talent next season losing just three seniors, including the starting goalie. Just as Wallace told his players, it’s like his team is building a house.

“The past few years we put the foundation down and now we need to build the rest of the house,” he said.

“It’s going to take the commitment of the girls that we currently have on the team to do the things that are necessary in regards to improving their skills and that. We believe that there are talented young ladies that will be forthcoming to Pine Creek.”