Sarah Jacques was speechless.

Really.

Didn't have a word of inspiration; didn't have a pat on the back or even the smallest push of encouragement.

Silence from Jacques is literally unheard of around St. Thomas Aquinas, where the 5-foot dynamo has done everything she can do to help lift the girls' soccer team.

''She is the greatest leader anyone could ever want to have,'' said Julie Schumacher, a sophomore forward and one of Aquinas' top scorers. ``She's the drive and the heart of this team. She's the spine and backbone.''

On the field, Jacques, a tiny whirlwind of a defender, hurls herself at every ball, throwing her body against the odds and opponents, relentless and reckless -- a blur of inspiration.

But she may be even more valuable off the field.

''She just knows what to do and what to say to get us hyped up for a game,'' said Kelsey Boone, a junior and three-year starter. ``She can go up against anybody, no matter how big they are.''

Schumacher added: ``I would rather face a girl 5-11 than try to stop Sarah. When you see her throw herself to stop a play, it just makes you want to play harder. She's 5 feet tall, but I look up to her, just like everyone on this team looks up to her.''

It was Jacques who came up with the idea to get rid of those practice shirts that simply said ''St. Thomas Soccer'' and replace them with shirts that read ''No Fear, No Regret,'' written in Chinese letters so only the Aquinas girls would get the message.

''They have grown up a lot this year, and I think we're peaking at the right time,'' said coach Carlos Giron.

That's good news for Aquinas, because the playoffs start Thursday night against Fort Myers and the goal is simple: Win it all.

That's the one time Jacques goes speechless.

''I don't even have words, there are no words to tell you what winning it means to me,'' she said. ``When you are a senior and you have never won it, there are no words to explain how badly I want to win it. I'll do anything it takes to win it.''

Jacques, one of only two seniors on the team texts teammates constantly with words of encouragement.

''Before every game, she gives an inspirational quote,'' Boone said. ``It's the last thing we do in the huddle.''

There should be enough to motivate Aquinas, a perennial power that is 19-3-1 this season. They may be young, but the team is full of talent, including scorers such as Ana Cufie (18 goals), Ashley Oswald (12 goals) and Schumacher (15 goals), as well as Christina Chai-Ching, a top defender and the only other senior starter.

They grew closer last summer when most of the team played in the Kanga Cup, an international tournament in Australia. They spent 10 days Down Under and won the Cup.

''That made us a lot closer, and we really started learning to play together better'' Boone said. ``That cup was great, but what we want is to win the state title.''

The kids decided if they win it all they will go to Disney World to celebrate. Before a game this season, Jacques used those simple words to pick everyone up.

'I just said `Disney World,' '' Jacques said, ``and it changed everything. Australia was nice, but everyone loves Disney World.''

Now the road begins with Chinese letters a fiery dynamo ready for one last push.

''I don't know what I'll say [before the game],'' Jacques said Wednesday. ``It's got to be good.''

She won't be speechless.