Panther boys soccer remains in playoff hunt going into second round of district

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The varsity boys soccer fights for top spot in district with 1-1 tie with SGP. (Giselle Lopez photo)

With only five games left in district play, the boys soccer team has an 14-2 record and has only lost those games by a total of three points. The team will have the chance to redeem themselves and change the dynamics of District 7-6A as both the teams they lost to and the one they tied with will be part of their last games in district play.

“We must find a way to finish our chances and score goals,” head coach Nuno Passos said. “We need to keep grinding and keep believing in the process and each other.”

Passos said his coaching staff has done a great job scouting and scheming to find ways to win.

“We have played well enough to win the games we have lost and are tying,” Passos said. “We must finish our chances at the box.”

Passos said there is one true key to moving to a higher spot in district play.

“We must keep picking up the wins in the second half of district,” Passos said. “We must burry our 4-5 quality chances at a goal each game and limit the other teams to half the chances at scoring.”

Passos said the team is very young this year after graduating so many last year.

“We have some inexperienced but very competitive players who are resilient,” Passos said.

Passos said the team is tying more games than they would like but all in all they only have two losses in 16 games.

“Our defense is doing their job and giving us a chance to win,” Passos said. “We are just lacking a true finisher who can score 15-20 goals this year.”

With the experience the team has had on varsity up to this point, Passos said the team is working to overcome obstacles.

“Because our starters are new to varsity starting positions there is a learning curve with the speed of play and physicality at this level,” Passos said.

All in all Passos said he expects his team to mature and be successful.
“I am proud of this team going out and having as many wins as they do,” Passos said. “Again we only have two losses in 16 games so far.”