A group of Westport girls who have gone farther in youth soccer than anyone here in nearly 25 years will play for a state championship this coming weekend.

The Westport United Youth Soccer fifth grade girls' team, which includes third, fourth and fifth graders, will play in the Division I Massachusetts Tournament of Champions in Lancaster this Friday, ending a 23-year Westport drought in the tournament. Though the times and opponents aren't yet finalized, they will likely play Middlesex in their first game.

"I'm so proud of all of them," said Sonia Nickelson, whose husband Keith is one of two assistant coaches for the team alongside fellow assistant Paul Krizyston and head coach Justin Gendreau.

"These girls have been together for four years and it's so amazing to see them grow," she said. "At this age, they've developed into really great athletes. It's been a nice journey and I hope it continues."

The last time Westport entered a team into the Tournament of Champions was 23 years ago, and a fifth grade girls' team has never made it this far. The current team earned the honor over two seasons — last year, they won the South Coast Soccer League Division II championship, which bumped them up to Division I play this year. Over their season this year, the girls went 6-2 and won the South Coast Soccer League DI championship last Saturday, defeating the Fairhaven Mariners, 3-1, before knocking off Dartmouth, 3-0, later that day.