After two years coaching Woodstock’s junior varsity boys soccer team, Cory Nix decided to try his hand at turning around the fortunes of the school’s varsity girls squad.

Bringing a new spirit and discipline, Nix did just that as he led the Lady Wolverines to the most successful season in their history.

Under Nix’s tutelage, Woodstock achieved its best record — 13-4 — won its first county championship and won a share of the Region 5AAAAA title — another first.

The Lady Wolverines also cracked into the state rankings for the first time, rising as high as third in Class AAAAA at one point.

For leading Woodstock to new heights, Nix is the 2012 Cherokee Tribune Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.

“It is definitely an honor,” Nix said. “I put in a lot of hard work and got the girls organized — a lot of general management stuff — but the credit goes to the girls and all the hard work they put in.”

Nix inherited a team that went 6-10 in 2011, but the Lady Wolverines did make it to the state playoffs. He drew on his experiences as a football coach, introducing some of the elements from coaching on the gridiron to his duties with the Lady Wolverines.

“I’ve coached football, and I brought a lot of what I learned from coaching football,” Nix said. “I would watch a lot of video of our opponents, and I did a lot of scouting of our opponents as well. We also had the girls work out in the weight room, and that helped them a lot with their strength and conditioning.”

The preparation Nix put in paid off.

As senior forward Caitlin Tongco enjoyed a career season with 28 goals and 12 assists, Woodstock lost only three games — at the hands of eventual Class AAAAA state champion Milton, defending state champion Harrison and Alpharetta.

That loss to Harrison came in the playoffs, but those same Lady Hoyas provided Woodstock with its biggest moment in the regular season. The Lady Wolverines upset the defending title-holders 3-0 on April 20.

“It was our biggest win in school history,” Nix said. “We dominated the first 15 minutes of the game. It was the most goals that Harrison gave up in a game since 2008, so I’m proud of the girls’ effort.”

Nix also took pride in Woodstock’s first county championships. The Lady Wolverines went undefeated against county opposition, beating region rivals Etowah and Cherokee, and getting non-region wins over Creekview, Sequoyah and River Ridge.

“It’s always Etowah that has won the county title,” Nix said, “and we’re excited that we were able to break through and win it this year.”

Woodstock also claimed its first region title as it won a share of the crown with Lassiter and Walton. The Lady Wolverines, however, ended up with the third seed in the state playoffs based on the tiebreaker.

Woodstock continued to make history as it won their first state playoff game with a first-round victory at Centennial.

The Lady Wolverines’ magical season came to an end, however, in the second round as Harrison won 2-1 to get a measure of revenge.

Nix will have some holes to fill next season with the loss of Tongco and three other key players. Woodstock will also be moving into a competitive Region 5AAAAAA that includes new state champion Milton.

Despite that, Nix is confident that the Lady Wolverines will continue to build on the success that they achieved in 2012.

“Obviously, we look to make it back to the playoffs,” he said. “We’re in a very competitive region that has just added Milton, so to make it to the state playoffs in a region like that would be a huge accomplishment. You never know what to expect in soccer, but our girls are committed to working hard and being successful.”