Team loses two in tough battles against first- and second-place conference opponents

Megan Joyner on a breakaway, controlling the dribble

As many of you have probably noticed, there's nothing this team prefers more than a good challenge.  And challenge was the theme of the beginning of last week, as the Panthers faced top-seeded conference opponents Chapel Hill and Cardinal Gibbons at home on Monday and Wednesday.

Senior Katie Bumgarner defends a Crusader

Playing Gibbons first on Monday, the team had the goal of holding the Crusaders to a smaller goal differential.  Winning balls out of the air was integral to this goal, and the team set to it right away.  High-pressure defense on their midfielders and forwards, but not their defenders, was a new style of play for the Panthers.  Allowing the Gibbons defenders to make decisions instead of pressuring them immediately bought the Panthers some time to redistribute their marks and make sure that each of them were covered.  Although unconventional, the plan seemed to work: the Panthers held the Crusaders to only 1 goal until the last 5 minutes of the first half.

Lexi Moyer, Player of the Game against Cardinal Gibbons

The teams went to halftime with Gibbons up 2-0.  With multiple new fans in the stands, including teachers and students, the Panthers fought hard on their home turf, closing out the game by never quitting, but with a final score of 6-0.  The Player of the Game goldfish bag was awarded to freshman Lexi Moyer (#1), a recent addition to the team from JV.  Moyer (shown left) hustled non-stop, pressured hard, and ran every ball down that she could.  At halftime, the team refined their gameplan and asked Moyer to play slightly differently than she'd ever been asked to before.  She quickly adapted to a different style of play and responded with ease.  Despite her small size, she battled for every ball that came near her.  Great game, Lexi.

The team had one practice Tuesday before facing Conference leader Chapel Hill, who had already tied and defeated Gibbons earlier in the season.  With the Chapel Hill Tigers known for being a striking force, the team starting in their holding formation of 4-5-1.  Despite another tough competition and only allowing two goals in the second half, the Panthers fell to the first-seed Tigers 6-0.  The Player of the Game was Grace Lamay (pictured right), who showed exceptional improvements in her game: making good turns with the ball at her feet, playing solid defense, and having much more crisp first touches.  The coaches are excited to see Grace more at outside midfield.  Good game, Grace! 

Tallie Phillips wins a ball from a Chapel Hill player

The team takes on J.F. Webb Thursday for their last regular-season Conference match.  Having faced two hard challenges early in the week, they are ready for one they can tackle.  It will be Senior Night, and the speeches will commence at 5:45pm.  Game time is 6pm.  Please come out and support your Panthers, especially your senior Panthers!