With winter coming to a close, so are Cypress Lake’s winter sports. The Boys’ Soccer season unfortunately came to an end on Jan. 30, but they didn’t go down without a fight! Following a 2-1 win over Island Coast, they faced off against the number one seed, DeSoto County, in the district semifinals. The Panthers won this hard-fought match with a score of 1-0. Sophomore Marcello Dos Santos scored the Panthers’ goal with an assist from Jacob Milburn. Goalkeeper Mason Kurtz made an impressive seven saves, earning him the title Player of the Match.
This victory secured the boys a spot in the district championship game. Unfortunately after travelling to Lemon Bay, a 1-1 draw wasn’t enough to secure the district title. Cypress’s goal was scored by senior Jacob Milburn. Milburn, who was named Player of the Match, said “I’m glad we were able to make it as far as we did despite previous years…individually, and as a team, this was the best game we have played since my freshman year.”
Unfortunately the CLHS Boys’ Soccer team did not advance to the regional tournament, however their performance in their district matches reflect their effort and dedication. Their goal as a team this season was to win districts, and while they did not fully achieve this, the results of their hard work most certainly paid off. Panther Soccer players and fans alike should be excited for what next season has in store.
The Girls’ Soccer season also unfortunately came to an early end on Jan. 24. The Labelle Cowgirls hosted the Lady Panthers for the District Semifinal match where the Lady Panthers, despite their efforts, lost. With a score of 3-1, they did not move any further in the playoffs. During this game, Senior Ava Gadus scored on the Labelle Goalkeeper. Goalkeeper Gena Anderson made 13 saves during this game. Anderson stated “This season we really came together as a team, you could definitely see a difference between the beginning and end. Labelle was a hard fought game, and we had already beaten them the week prior, it was just a game where the shots didn’t quite make it to the goal and we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for.”
Despite their loss to Labelle, CLHS Girls’ Soccer has had a strong season. Under the leadership of a completely new coaching staff, led by head coach Ms. Ximena Dupont, the Panthers have won eight of their games. This new team was ranked second in the district, and as Coach Dupont continues in her role they are sure to continue climbing the ranks and improving.
