When the final game of the season was complete, the Puyallup Panthers club lacrosse team huddled together for one final chant in unison.
“Undefeated,” the players exclaimed.
The Puyallup Panthers, are a club team comprised of high school aged athletes from Rogers, Puyallup and Emerald Ridge High School, easily defeated the Klahowya Eagles of Silverdale 14-3 on May 7 at Stahl Junior High School on South Hill.
The Panthers finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 11-0.
The Panthers’ offensive attack proved to be unstoppable in the first half as the Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of play.
Liz Wilkins scored a game-high four goals for the Panthers. Joclyn Isernio and Sarah Morris chipped in three goals apiece and Katie Tillman, Natalie Call, Janel Brown and Natalie Awai added one goal each in the final contest of the spring.
Morris said the prospect of a perfect season were on all of the players’ minds before their finale against Klahowya.
“I was nervous and I think we all were going into this,” Morris said. “We knew this was the game where it would come right down to it. But I felt pretty good about it, I thought we would win and we did.”
Morris said the team set a goal in early season practices to go undefeated.
“It feels so cool. We worked together for this,” Morris said. “Most of us have played together for the past two or three years. We played good offense and great defense. We’re always double teaming the ball and it pays off.”
Puyallup co-coach Mike Mckinstry is proud of the girls for showing everyone how talented a team they are.
“It satisfying for them to end the year like this,” Mckinstry said. “I’ve coached lacrosse for 15 years and this is as good of group of girls I’ve ever been around. Halfway through the season they realized they had a shot at going undefeated. They worked really hard and finished it up.”
Fellow Puyallup co-coach Laura Ring said team chemistry played a role in the Panthers success.
“There isn’t any issues or any infighting with this team at all,” Ring said. “They are unified which makes a big difference.”
Print
E-Mail