Team collects 9 goals and a shutout in game against Southern Vance

Grace Lamay chases down a Southern Vance player

The team traveled to Southern Vance for their second meeting on Wednesday, April 25th.  The team took the field in their secondary formation, running with two forwards and four midfielders.  Devon Allen quickly finished the first goal, dribbling up through a few defenders before scoring in the left corner of the net.

Her goal was followed by one from Hannah Mignosa, who sprinted up the left sideline and sent a left-footed shot across the baseline.  Seemingly at an impossible angle, the goal squeaked in the far-side of the net.  Goals from three seniors followed: first from Tatiana Mangal, then one from Brittany Smith, and finally two from captain Brooke Hilliard, one off of a cross from freshman Megan Joyner.

Brooke Hilliard and Tatiana Mangal switch as keepers

The team went into the second half looking much more organized, playing with passes to feet and focusing on playing the way they faced as well as swinging the ball through the back.  The time in goal was split between Hilliard and Mangal, shown right, and Madison Chandler happily put away her second goal of the season while playing on the field.

Hannah Mignosa, Player of the Game

Sophomore Ashley Blakemore, out for part of the season with injury and illness, finally notched her first goal of the season, and excitedly so.  The coaches hope that Blakemore's scoring-floodgates have opened. 

The Player of the Game was sophomore Hannah Mignosa, who played at the outside midfield position for the majority of the game.  Aside from a fantastic goal, she hustled hard and created multiple scoring opportunities with crosses for the Panthers.  Great game, Hannah!

Hannah Mignosa makes a left-footed cross

The team heads into their last week of regular-season play next week, with 3 conference games to close out the season.  All of the games are at home--please come out & support your Panthers!

*A huge thanks to Julie Joyner for the photos!  Thank you!

Missing players doesn't stop Panthers from well-played soccer, but they still fall 4-1 to Northern Durham

Center defender Natalie Hartmond clears a ball away from a Knight

The team faced Northern Durham last Friday, April 20th, at the Knights stadium.  Without Mia or Tallie Phillips, Ashley Blakemore, MJ Bumgarner, Brittany Smith, and Summer Anderson, one would think that the team fell apart.  Quite the contrary.  The rest of the team picked up the responsibility, with many of the players never coming off of the field for a substitution, and held off Northern Durham for the majority of the first half.

Viviane Feldman plays tight pressure defense on #15

The Panthers defense was solid--with Natalie Hartmond (shown above right) and Viviane Feldman (shown left) winning many balls centrally out of the air, and Brooke Hilliard, Devon Allen, and Tatiana Mangal playing fast and decisive outside defense.  Goalkeeper Madison Chandler had 10 saves in the first half, helping to hold off the Knights for almost 30 minutes of the first half.  Executing on fast breaks, the Knights slipped in 2 goals before the second half.

The team agreed at halftime to continue playing fast-pace soccer: 1-and 2-touches, continuing the movement off the ball, and not pulling the ball back on a potential breakaway.  A few minutes into the second half, the Knights got their third goal, and both teams played the majority of the second half at a score of 3-0.   Devon Allen was pulled up to forward and Rachel Shinnick started to play more as an attacking center midfielder to help Allen on breakways.  The Panthers had multiple opportunities up top, set up by good passes out wide by freshmen Megan Joyner and Savannah Jackson, a few good corner kick chances by Viviane Feldman, and one near-goal off of a free kick taken by Natalie Hartmond.  Late in the second half, freshman Rachel Shinnick collected a ball off of a punt by the goalkeeper near the half-field line, set it up, and shot from way out.  The ball seemed to travel in slow motion as it dropped in behind the goalkeeper, making the score 3-1.

Grace Lamay controls the dribble

The Panthers fought hard for a second goal, but couldn't seem to close on any of their chances.  The team had a total of 16 shots against Northern Durham, and a shot on goal percentage of 44%.  The team is still striving to get their shots on goal more than 50% of the time, and hope to focus on that tonight against Conference opponent Southern Vance.

Devon Allen, Player of the Game, on a fast break from defender

It was difficult for the coaches to choose one Player of the Game as so many members of the team had breakout performances--notably Natalie Hartmond, Viviane Feldman, Brooke Hilliard, and Megan Joyner, but one player in particular epitomized the ideal of never giving up.  Providing constant hustle and effort, a winning attitude, and a level of fight that truly set her on her own level, junior Devon Allen took home the s'mores packet for earning Player of the Game.  Great game, Devon. 

The team travels to Southern Vance tonight for their final in-season away game.  They are on the hunt for a W.  Good luck, Panthers!

Rescheduled J.F. Webb game

Due to the cancellation of the J.F. Webb game, the home game has been rescheduled (Varsity only) for Friday, May 4th, at 5pm.  Warm-ups for the Varsity team will begin at 4pm.  We hope you can join us for our last conference home game of the season!

2012 Panthers at Prom

From left: Viviane Feldman, Devon Allen, Brooke Hilliard, Tatiana Mangal, Mia Phillips, Tallie Phillips, Tyler Taubenheim, Madison Chandler, Natalie Hartmond, MJ Bumgarner, Katie Bumgarner, volunteer Maribel Portillo

Panthers topple Northern Vance 4-0

Hannah Mignosa takes on a Viking

After two tough losses against Cedar Ridge and then Chapel Hill, the Panthers were hungry to secure a win.  Facing Northern Vance Wednesday night, they hoped that they'd have their chance.  Despite the colder weather and a threat of rain, the girls warmed up and took the field.  They knew that in the case of rain cancellation, they couldn't be down at any point.  About ten minutes in to the game, the Panthers were awarded an indirect kick.  The entire Northern Vance team lined up on the goal line, but there was a small gap between the Vance defensive wall on the left side.  Both Rachel Shinnick and Mia Phillips saw the opening, and after a quick pass from Shinnick, Phillips executed the goal, and the Panthers took the lead.

Savannah Jackson pulls a move on Northern Vance

On a three-game week, the team made many substitutions to stay fresh and saw some stellar performances from some different players.  All three players that played from JV (Summer Anderson, Savannah Jackson (pictured right), and Lexi Moyer) had great games and really showed how their skills and awareness of the game have progressed throughout the season.

Hannah Mignosa, Grace Lamay, Tatiana Mangal, Brittany Smith and Haley Strong all played much better as well, trying out some new moves on the field.

Mia Phillips scores her third goal of the game.  Her first hat trick this season!

Ten minutes after the first goal, right defender Tatiana Mangal made a clean pass into the center of the field where Mia Phillips turned with the ball, shot, and finished her second goal of the night, earning Mangal her first assist of the season and Phillips her 8th goal.  With 16 minutes left in the half, Phillips dribbled through two defenders and secured her third goal of the night, notching her 9th goal and first hat trick of the season.

The loss of MJ Bumgarner to an ankle injury just before halftime slowed down Panther momentum somewhat, and while they went into halftime excited about the lead, they knew that they were capable of better soccer.  Staying wide, playing two-touch, and better communication were encouraged for the second half, as well as not giving up so many turnovers.  24 turnovers in 9 minutes, the team agreed, is unacceptable. 

They went back into the second half and the Vikings held the Panthers scoreless until the last five minutes of the half, when Rachel Shinnick, using only her left foot, dribbled through a defender and sunk her 7th goal of the season.  Her now-well-known goal-scoring excitement followed just after.

Haley Strong accelerates on a breakaway

Finishing with a shutout and 36 shots on goal was a victory for the Panthers, and congratulations are in order for Madison Chandler and Tatiana Mangal's second duo shutout.  However, the team knows what they need to continue to work on: shots on goal (only 44% against Northern Vance!), playing wide, and checking to the player with the ball as well as playing simple passes so as to prevent turnovers.

Brittany Smith, Player of the Game

The Player of the Game against Northern Durham was senior Brittany Smith, who played the majority of the game at both forward and defense.  She had a total of 4 shots on goal and a few near-assists to outside midfielders.  Her aggressive play and speed on the field were huge improvements for her and certainly did not go unnoticed.  Brittany is a great leader for the team, and her passion for the sport and the team were truly exemplified Wednesday night.  Great job, Brittany. 

They head into their game tonight against Northern Durham confident and eager for a comeback win.  We hope you'll join us!

Tough losses to Cedar Ridge and Chapel Hill test team, build character

Devon Allen maneuvers around a Cedar Ridge striker

Tuesday, April 10th: Orange vs. Cedar Ridge, L: 2-3

There isn't a better way to learn the lesson of "playing until the last whistle blows" quite like the way that the Panthers' soccer team learned it last Tuesday night against Cedar Ridge.  Back from Spring Break, the team started off without their usual luster and quickly lost center midfielder Rachel Shinnick to an injury, but sophomore Tallie Phillips managed to score a goal off of an assist from her sister, senior Mia Phillips, before going into the second half.  Up 1-0 at halftime, the Panthers felt charged and ready to continue the attack.

Megan Joyner, Player of the Game vs. Cedar Ridge

However, a quick Cedar Ridge goal early in the second half tied up the game, and the Panthers struggled to regain their composure after that.  Megan Joyner really stepped up as center midfielder in the absence of her friend and teammate, Shinnick, and Joyner found herself tracking down Cedar Ridge players all over the field.  Her physical style of play and refusal to give up earned her the title of "Player of the Game," but not before she got a breakaway goal late in the second half to tie up the game, 2-2.

Megan Joyner shields the ball from a Red Wolf

Motivated by their second goal to tie it up, the Panthers attacked hard, pulling Devon Allen out of the defense, moving to a more attacking formation with her at forward, and running in a 3-5-2 for the last nine minutes of the game.  Both Cedar Ridge and Orange traded breakaways in the last ten minutes of the game, and with 14 seconds left in the game, Cedar Ridge pulled out a shot across the frame of the goal to go up 3-2.  Try as they might, 14 seconds wasn't quite enough for the Panthers, and despite outshooting Cedar Ridge 15-7, the Panthers took home the loss.

The team discusses the Cedar Ridge game

The Panthers went into practice the next day with three themes to focus on and discuss: 1) personal accountability, 2) structural changes & changes in formation and 3) staying hungry.  They watched film, looking specifically for instances of turnovers, not winning 50/50 balls, not shooting when they had the shot, and situations where they got beat by players on the other team.  Despite being hard to swallow, the team understood that they won't operate as a team until they have each conquered their personal weaknesses.  They then talked strategy and potential new formations before agreeing to take the Cedar Ridge game, learn from it, and never let it happen again.

Monday, April 16th: Orange vs. Chapel Hill, L: 0-4

The team came out Monday night without Tallie Phillips and Rachel Shinnick, who both had to sit with injuries.  They took the field against Chapel Hill in a 4-5-1, with Mia Phillips as the lone attacker.  The team had a difficult time of guarding against the sideline wall passes, and Chapel Hill scored three times in the first half, going into halftime up 3-0.

In the second half, the Panthers defense stepped up, notably with Tatiana Mangal (shown below) chasing after every ball and forcing Chapel Hill to continue to pass back away from the Orange goal.  Later in the second half, Mangal moved to a forward position with Brittany Smith as the team shifted to a 4-4-2.  Mangal's composed efforts and crisp touches at both forward and defense earned her the role of "Player of the Game" against Chapel Hill.  Great game, Tatiana!  

Tatiana Mangal, shown left, controls the ball

After a fourth Chapel Hill goal 15 minutes in to the second half, the Panthers denied any Tiger shots for the rest of the game.  The Panthers pulled off a few more goal-scoring opportunities, with Mia Phillips hitting the crossbar on one shot late in the second half.  The Panthers went home Monday night disappointed in the loss but not defeated, as senior Mia Phillips said, "I think we could do better, but I also think that we played well."

Spirit Packs available for sign up!

 

This year, the teams have elected to get mesh jerseys.  Below is the design that was chosen.  It will be orange with white letters on one side, and white mesh without any printing on the reverse side (see image).  If there are 50 orders, they will come out to $20.00/jersey.  If you want your number printed on the back, then it is $2.50 per number.  Please let us know if you are interested below (or you can return the form if you prefer) and return the form by THIS Friday, April 20^th with your payment (cash or check is fine) to Coach Hunter.  Please make checks payable to Jenna Hunter.  We realize that these are not cheap, but we would like for everyone to get one that would like one.  If money is an issue, please speak with Coach Hunter or Coach Jag, and we’ll find a way to work it out.  Thanks!

 Sign up here!
http://www.customink.com/signup/v64hijr