by Kelsey Brown|Staff Writer| [email protected]
Sept. 28, 2019
Two teams huddle under glaring stadium lights. From above rap music blasts from the speakers, as two sets of soccer players hype each other up in preparation for their final pep talks from their coaches. The women on both teams—the City College Panthers and Sierra College Wolverines—hang their heads, listening intently to their coaches, before breaking out into claps and cheers, then heading to their starting positions. Both teams willing to do whatever it takes to win.
This time, however, Sierra secured the win. In a game of resilience, the Wolverines managed to triumph over the Panthers 5-0. Despite Sierra’s first goal 10 minutes into the first half, the Panthers held their own, playing a game revolving around defense. The Wolverines dominated the game offensively with concrete passes and complex plays around gaps left on the field left by the Panthers.
The Wolverines’ corner kicks helped solidify their lead in the first half. Two of their four goals made in the first half were scored from corner kicks taken by Laura Prine. The other two goals were scored by Paige Martinsen, who was able to shoot the ball into the net out of the air.
Olivia Foulk, defensive player for the Panthers, was proud of her team despite the tough game. “Yeah, we were losing, but nobody gave up—and was like, ‘I don’t want to be here any more.’ Everyone just kept playing their hardest, and we were all there for each other,” Foulk said after the game.
The Panthers established themselves as an offensive competition during the second half, keeping the Wolverines on their toes as the ball seemed to gravitate more towards their side with the Panthers’ increased pressure.
Head Coach for the Panthers, Alexia Poon, noticed the shift in her teams’ energy from the first to second half.
“The first half was rough for us. We decided at half time that we weren’t competing, and I think the second half we definitely did much better,” said Poon. “We were playing, we were passing, and that’s what we’re good at. And I think sometimes we get out of our groove and forget we’re good at playing soccer.”
The Panthers’ defense also strengthened during the second half, with Sierra scoring only one goal. This was partly due to Foulk, who was responsible for saving two potential goals off of corner kicks within the last 10 minutes. In the end, the Panthers were able to hold off on Sierra’s additional attempts to score.
Poon has specific goals for the rest of her team’s season.
“To keep learning from each game, and we’ll get a win. I can feel it. And once we get one win, we’re going to get more,” Poon said. “So just focusing one game at a time and continuing to build my athletes and keep them excited to play and help them be the best players that they can be by the end of the season.”
The Panthers will face the Santa Rosa Bear Cubs in their next game Oct. 1, at Santa Rosa Community College.
