The Panthers varsity boys soccer team faced off against the Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers on Thursday, August 28 at George L. King Field. 

The team picked up momentum quickly, with senior Emmanuel Pickup scoring the first goal of the game early in the first half. 

“I’m really happy with today’s performance, everybody won their individual battles, I think everybody came off the bench, we all played well,” Pickup said. 

Despite the Panthers letting up a goal with 12 minutes left in the first half, they came out of halftime regrouped and ready to rebuild momentum.

Two consecutive goals from the Panthers ensued, both coming from junior Halen O’Neill.

“We saw it was 1-1 at halftime, and we saw that when we got momentum, when we pressed them hard, and when we worked harder and wanted it more, it was really all us, we dominated this,” O’Neill said.

After O’Neill’s second goal, the Golden Panthers were struggling to gain momentum against a solid Panthers defense. 

Three more goals came from the Panthers, a product of hard offseason work.

“The whole team, we’ve all been really locked in, dedicated all summer, been at the field training and working really hard,” O’Neill said. 

Apart from teamwork, some team members worked out individually to advance their skills.

“I just came out here [George L. King Field] every day, and sometimes I went twice a day, and just kind of had the motivation that if I want to do well this season, I have to put the extra work in,” junior Brendan Godo said. “I think we are going to go far into the playoffs, and maybe [there’s] a chance we go all the way. I’m not going to get too ahead of myself.” 

The Panthers look forward to their next match on Tuesday, September 2 against the Conestoga Pioneers at George L. King Field at 7:00 p.m..