One game away.

The Spartans are one game away from making history, one game away from cementing themselves among the most decorated in UIL soccer history and one game away from a dynasty.

Seven Lakes has been on a mission all year, everyone knows what is on the Spartans mind, they want to repeat as Class 6A state champions and on their search for it, the Spartans have been hunted every step of the way.

But Seven Lakes has been undeterred, and they took their next step towards their goal on Friday, beating Duncanville 2-0 in the state semifinals to secure a second straight trip to the state title game.

“It’s hard to win a state title but it’s even harder to defend,” said seven Lakes head coach Jimmy Krueger. “It’s hard to keep a team that’s already been there from being complacent and to keep battling, but these guys have done a great job of managing expectations and raising their level when it mattered the most. These guys are playing for each other and they want this accomplishment for their seniors. This is great, what more could you want than to still be playing on the last day.”

Seven Lakes piled on the pressure early and created chances, but Duncanville was able to hold the Spartans at bay. Duncanville nearly took the lead in the 28th minute when a strong strike from outside the box forced Ben Aviles Vera into a fingertip save that bounced off the bar, Seven Lakes had just as big of a chance just minutes later, but a header from just a few yards out went wide and both teams stayed scoreless at half.

Seven Lakes kept the pressure going in the second half and broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Noa Stasic took a pass from Aiden Morrison and stepped past a defender on the left side before curling it into the near post from 20-yards out, giving Seven Lakes the lead. The Spartans kept pushing and added a second in the 70th minute, as Daniel Ejerenwa sent a centered pass into the box after receiving a long pass and Eduardo Davalillo tapped in the game sealing goal.

“We are reaching the level we need to be at and taking everything seriously,” Stasic said. “We take all of them seriously, but sometimes you aren’t at your top form, I think we are finally reaching that now that these big games have come around. We want to bring this home and we’re all going to give it everything we have.”

The Spartans are reaching a new level and a big part of that has to do with Stasic’s play. The senior dealt with injures earlier in the season, but has been everywhere since the regional tournament has started, scoring three goals in his last three games and being one of the biggest threats on the field.

“He’s just a nuisance for every team when he’s working and pressuring like this,” Krueger said. “He’s not someone defenders want to deal with, so this is exactly the Noa we need. He’s hard nosed and gritty, but he has exceptional technical ability to back it up. When he’s playing like this it sets the tempo for the rest of those guys behind him.”

The Spartans will play the winner of Flower Mound and Vandegrift in the state final 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Birkelbach Field. No matter which team it is, Seven Lakes will be ready, they’ve already been hunted all year.

“It’s all about staying professional and being ready,” Stasic said. “We’re going to go get some ice baths, watch these teams play and get ready. We know what we have to do tomorrow now we just have to take the right approach to bring it home.”