End of Season banquet this Sunday, November 20th at 5pm!

Hello all JV Men's soccer players and parents,

Just wanted to let you know that we will be having a banquet to
celebrate the 2011 soccer season this coming Sunday, November 20th at
5pm.  The banquet will be held at Anna Maria's, the pizza restaurant
on Churton Street right off of 70 near Orange High School.  We will be
giving out awards to both Varsity and JV players for the season.

I'll let you know about any other details this week as I receive them.
Please spread the word!  Thanks!

Hope to see you there,
Coach Hunter

Thanks for a great season!

I'd like to extend a huge thanks to players, parents, school faculty and administration, and fans for all of your hard work and support this season!  Teachers, thank you for all of the cooperation and extra help with some of the players; I can't thank you enough for your time.  A huge thank-you goes to Mrs. Doyle, who drove the bus for the team to all of the away games, and a big thanks to Athletic Director Earnie Price and Athletic Trainer Jim King for the support at all of the home games.

The team after their last game against Chapel Hill

The team worked hard, learned a ton about soccer and character, had fun, and hopefully will train hard in the off-season to be ready to go by next fall.

There will be an end-of-season banquet after the Varsity programs have completed the State Playoffs.  We will let you know as soon as we finalize a place and time.

Again, thanks for all of the help!  See you at the banquet!

Despite losses in last two games to Cardinal Gibbons and Chapel Hill, Panthers accomplish goals and finish the season with a fight

Morgan Collins makes a clearance

The Panthers went in to the last two games of their season with a few realistic and attainable goals in mind.  Playing the two best teams in the conference back-to-back, the team committed to a few goals: #1. Have a better goal ratio than the game before against each team. #2. Hold them to fewer goals in the second half than in the first half. #3. Score a goal. #4. Hold them to a scoreless first ten minutes, and #5. Don't give up on any play.

Alejandro Munoz makes a tackle

The team went out hard against Cardinal Gibbons, who they had previously lost to 7-0, pressuring their midfielders immediately and to the inside, pushing the defense up quickly, and trying to win anything in the middle of the field.  The Panthers defense caught the Crusaders offsides eight times throughout the game and utilized a few fast re-starts to move the ball forward. 

Finn Hubbs and Austin Goehring

With the score 5-0 at halftime, the Panthers knew that they had to pull off a solid second half.  Player of the Game, Chris Lamay, played the best that he had all season, running down Gibbons' attackers and cleanly stripping them of the ball on breakaways.  His speed and attacking defensive style were exceptional against the Gibbons' forwards.  Bowen Collins, Hector Paredes, Tyler Taubenheim, and Morgan Collins also played decisive and powerful defense for the Panthers.

Trevor Samsa takes on a defender

The Panthers fought hard in the second half, holding the Crusaders to only three goals (Goal #2 accomplished!).  Jace Krogstad had a speedy breakaway late in the second half and laid an easy pass off to Trevor Samsa (pictured left), who netted a goal for the Panthers with his left foot (Goal #3: check!) and sent the Panthers rolling with momentum.

Brad Barbee had a stellar game, totaling 17 saves.  Barbee came out early on breakaway players and made some crucial saves in the air off of Gibbons' corner kicks.    Although the Panthers didn't hold them to a scoreless first ten minutes (Goal #1), the team kept the Crusaders scoreless for 28, which they took as a victory.  At the end of the day with an 8-1 score, Tyler Taubenheim said, "well, we came out even!" in regard to goal ratio, and knowing they fought through every play (Goal #5 definitely accomplished), the Panthers were pleased to have seen 3 of their 5 goals materialize.

Alejandro Munoz, Coach Hunter, and Joey Ricca

Two days later, the Panthers faced crosstown opponent Chapel Hill for the second time (previous score 8-0) with the same set of goals in hand.  On a much smaller field, the Panthers worked hard to keep their outside midfielders wide, allowing more room in the center of the field for ball movement.  Eli Lockwood was exceptional at outside right midfield, making long runs up the sidelines before trying to get a cross off and then getting all the way back to play weak-side defense.  Brad Barbee had another exceptional game, hurting his toe early in the first half and continuing to play through it.  Morgan Collins had another great game in the back, testing the waters more by carrying the ball up through Chapel Hill defenders and then making an easy pass out wide.  Down Chris Lamay and Jace Krogstad (who played with Varsity against Chapel Hill), most of the Panthers played the entire game without a break, and still didn't give up.

RJ Jackson looks to have a shot

Alejandro Munoz (pictured above right), Finn Hubbs (pictured top left) and Joey Ricca (pictured above left), all made stellar contributions to the team against Chapel Hill.  Despite multiple attacks from the Orange forwards (Trevor Samsa, Caleb Anderson, Gabe Munoz, RJ Jackson, Gera Figueroa), the Panthers couldn't find the net against Chapel Hill.  A few players came out with minor injuries (Brad Barbee, Austin Goehring, Tyler Taubenheim) and the Panthers stepped up to fill in their shoes.  Daniel Allred came in for Barbee at goal and played hard against Chapel Hill for the second time this season.

Player of the Game, Hector Paredes

The Player of the Game was Hector Paredes (pictured right), who played nearly the entirety of the game, hustled hard, won balls out of the air, and fought for possession against Chapel Hill.  Great game, Hector!

In the end, the Panthers had a better goal ratio (7-0, Goal #1!), a better second half than the first (Goal #2), and they didn't give up on any play (Goal #5).  With plenty to work on, the team took their last two games as learning experiences and went home pleased to have improved against both teams.

Panthers fall to Chapel Hill, then come back to defeat Oxford Webb

Gera Figueroa battles for the ball

The OHS JV Panthers fell to Chapel Hill last Monday, but trained through a week of difficult conditioning to come back and take Oxford Webb a week later.

After three days off for a teacher-workday, the Panthers came out against Chapel Hill seemingly tired, unprepared, and unfocused.  The sharp Chapel Hill squad quickly maneuvered small-sided passes around the Panthers, widening the field and forcing the team to chase.  Down 5-0 at halftime and tired, the Panthers made a goal: make the second half better than the first.  They decided to possess the ball more, play passes to feet instead of space, and communicate more on defense.

Joey Ricca chases down a Chapel Hill attacker

The second half looked much better-- Tyler Taubenheim, Hector Paredes, Morgan Collins, and Bowen Collins all stepped quickly out of the back and started winning balls out of the air.  Daniel Allred replaced Brad Barbee in goal and rose to the challenge.  Still, it was clear that the team was tired, and Chapel Hill came out with an 8-0 win by the end of the night.  Despite accomplishing their second-half goal, the team knew that some work was in store for them.

The team came to practice Tuesday and knew that fitness would be the theme.  They laced up their sneakers and went on a 5-mile run with hill repeats.  Thursday the team pounded out a 3.5 mile loop around Governor Burke Road, and Friday's practice went from small-sided (1v1, 4v4) tournaments to an 11v11 scrimmage, keeping the team moving consistently.  Saturday morning the Panthers came out and practiced again, making sure that they got plenty of touches on the ball before the game Monday.  All in all, the team logged over 12 miles in the week, and came out against Oxford Webb ready to prove it.

Gabe Munoz

This Monday, the OHS JV Panthers consistently dominated the Oxford Webb Red Devils, outshooting them 21-5.  Trevor Samsa got a fast breakaway in the first 4 minutes of the game and netted his fourth goal of the season, starting the Panthers out in the lead for the third time all season.  Six minutes later, outside midfielder Joey Ricca sent a crisp pass up to Trevor Samsa who lofted a cross across the box.  Eli Lockwood, coming in from a sprint, had a picture-perfect diving header to secure the Panthers' second goal. 

Three minutes later, Jace Krogstad sent in a corner kick on the ground that Lockwood again followed in and kicked right into the goal, notching his third goal of the season.  Again three minutes later, Caleb Anderson sent a leading pass into the box that Trevor Samsa caught up to, touched the ball outside of the goalie's hands, jumped over the keeper, and finished the shot on goal, giving Samsa five total season goals.  Sixteen minutes into the first half, the Panthers were up 4-0.

The Panthers started to move some players around to new positions, with Jace Krogstad trying defense, goalkeeper Brad Barbee playing outside midfield, and everyone getting plenty of playing time.  Twenty minutes into the second half, Jace Krogstad earned his first goal of the season, moving the ball around a defender and having a right-footed shot on goal that the keeper got his hands on but couldn't quite stop.  The Panthers left Oxford with a well-earned 5-0 win.

Caleb Anderson and Eli Lockwood

There were two players of the game, Gabriel Munoz (shown above right) and team captain Eli Lockwood (shown left).  Gabe has really come to be a standout forward for the Panthers, and is excellent at distributing the ball quickly and making smart passes.  His level of improvement this season as well as his set-up passes and level of hustle on Monday made him stand out as the Player of the Game.  Eli Lockwood also earned the title for his non-stop effort and eye for the goal on Monday.  Not only can Eli finish a ball that's in front of the goal, he is an excellent leader, on and off the field.  Good at communicating on the field, Lockwood consistently makes himself available for long passes up the right sideline.   

Multiple of the JV players will be playing in the Varsity game against Southern Vance tonight at 6:00 pm at home.  It is the Varsity team's Senior Night.  The JV team takes on Cardinal Gibbons away next Monday.

Despite tough efforts, Panthers drop winning streak against Cardinal Gibbons

RJ Jackson gets past Gibbons' defender

With a whole new set of strategy, multiple new formations under their belts, and their signature relentless spirit, the Panthers faced powerhouse opponent Cardinal Gibbons Wednesday night ready to put up a fight.  Good thing, too, since fight they did.  Down 3-0 nine minutes into the game, the Panthers gritted their teeth and fought onward, not ready to give up.  They put Chris Lamay as a man-to-man mark against Cardinal Gibbons' #48, who had just scored two of their three goals, and saw 28 minutes of play without another goal being scored.  Chris did a great job of neutralizing #48 and forcing the rest of the team to operate within their other nine field players.  The back line worked perfectly, forcing the Crusaders offsides nine times throughout the game.  However, the team wasn't winning 50/50 balls or balls out of the air and their notorious style of aggressive and tough play was decidedly missing in the first half.  Going into halftime down 5-0, 4 of which were scored on breakaway plays, the Panthers agreed to make the Crusaders work for their win: if they were going to walk off with it, at least they'd have to earn it.

Tyler Taubenheim, Player of the Game

The second half was much better, with the Panthers controlling most of the play and putting a body on any Crusaders' player who came within their area.  The Panthers switched Tyler Taubenheim to a defensive center midfield position, knowing his presence in front of the defensive line would be a force.  He proceeded to win every ball out of the air in front of him, immediately challenge players dribbling towards him, and make himself available for distribution.  His tenacity, mental toughness, and hard work unquestionably earned him the title of Player of the Game.  The coaches are excited to start Tyler at the defensive center midfield position against Chapel Hill tonight.

Trevor Samsa played well at both outside midfield and forward, and Caleb Anderson tallied off seven shots for the Panthers.  Both Bowen and Morgan Collins were smart and concise in their defensive play, and Hector Paredes ran down multiple Gibbons' attacks in the back.  Brad Barbee played in goal for the Panthers, and finished the game with 9 solid saves. 

Jace Krogstad with a clearance

In the end, the Panthers held the Crusaders to a 2-0 second half, and were pleased to see immediate progress from the first to the second half.  Despite the loss, the Panthers haven't lost their fighting spirit, and don't plan on losing it anytime soon.  They play crosstown opponents Chapel Hill high school tonight and are ready for their next test-- both of character and competition.  The Panthers will begin their warm-up at 4pm.  We hope you'll join us for the last home game of the season!  

In an 8-minute flurry of goals, the Panthers continue their winning streak with a 4-1 victory over Oxford Webb

Eli Lockwood and Joey Ricca

Discussing second-half tactics

Although Trevor Samsa quickly (and for the second time this season!) put away the starting goal for the Panthers against Conference opponent Oxford Webb, the first half started off a little shaky for the JV Men's Soccer team.  A lack of on-field communication, organization, and drive for the JV Panthers prevailed throughout the first half, forcing the home team to scramble for shape and possession.

Going into halftime tied 1-1, however, the team suggested to "start the second half as an entirely new team."  "Forget the first half," said defender Bowen Collins, and the team went into the second half agreeing to do just that.

Tyler Taubenheim takes a kick from defense

Refusing to leave their home field with a loss Wednesday night, the Panthers took the Orange High School field in the second half just as they said they would, as an entirely new team.  Winning balls out of the air, playing aggressively, and movement off of the ball were all game-changers for the Panthers, as they wove together more intentional passes and took shots at their first opportunities to do so instead of waiting for the "perfect shot".  More talk from the back line and the center midfielders helped to re-organize the Panthers, and it showed.  Twenty-three minutes into the second half, the Panthers pulled ahead by a breakaway pass from Gerardo Figueroa to Caleb Anderson, who coolly netted his fifth goal of the season.  After that, there was no turning back for the Panthers, as they played tough, worked together, and continued to send a torrent of shots at the Oxford Webb goalkeeper.

Chris Lamay takes on Webb attacker

After the second Orange High goal, it only took the Panthers 8 minutes to snag two more goals and round the score out at 4-1.  Two minutes after Anderson's goal, Eli Lockwood collected a rebounded shot and sent it right back in with great speed and precision to pull the Panthers to a 2-goal lead.  Six minutes after that, Bowen Collins finished the job with a perfectly one-touched goal off of an on-ground cross from Caleb Anderson.  Despite Oxford Webb goalkeeper saves, Trevor Samsa and Caleb Anderson each added six shots to the team total of 23 shots throughout the game, the highest total yet for the Panthers.

Goalkeeper Daniel Allred

 The Panther defense again played quite consistently, with defenders Tyler Taubenheim (shown above right) and Chris Lamay (pictured above left) standing out as defensive forces with no shortage of hustle.  Goalkeeper Daniel Allred (pictured right) had 2 saves and Brad Barbee had 4.  Austin Goehring had an excellent game at left midfield, creating multiple opportunities in front of the goal after taking the sideline with speed and getting off accurate, well-timed crosses.  Gerardo Figueroa also played well in the middle of the field, passing often and honing his sense of composure and decision-making.

Morgan Collins and RJ Jackson

On a 3-0 winning streak, the Panthers march eagerly onward towards tough matches against Conference opponents Cardinal Gibbons and Chapel Hill, knowing that they hold a deceptive upper-hand against powerhouse teams: the element of surprise.

The next game will be at home Wednesday, October 5th against Cardinal Gibbons.  See you there!  

Panthers trounce Cedar Ridge 3-1 Tuesday night

Trevor Samsa

Dressed in all black at home, the Panthers came out fighting Tuesday night against crosstown rivals, the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves.  Playing strong from the first whistle, Trevor Samsa received a long pass from Eli Lockwood, beat a Red Wolves' defender in a footrace, and scored in just under two minutes of the game.  Riding the momentum, the Panthers played tight defense and tactically smart, small-sided soccer throughout the first half of the game.  Much of the Panthers' possession was driven by good communication, smart drop passes, and utilizing the width of the field against the Red Wolves.  Winning balls out of the air and 50/50 balls on the ground set the team apart from their opponents, as they dominated the majority of the first half and the entirety of the second.

Bowen Collins and Trevor Samsa

The Red Wolves had one shot the entire game, a breakaway to a 1v1 with goalkeeper Brad Barbee that they put away after 12 minutes.  Tied 1-1, the Panthers shifted to a flat-back 4, sent Bowen Collins to forward, and put Tyler Taubenheim in the back line.  5 minutes before halftime, Bowen Collins received a drop pass at the top of the box from center midfielder Gabriel Munoz.  Collins, back facing the goal, touched the ball across his body, turned 180 degrees, and ripped a right-footed shot into the upper left-hand corner of the goal.  Pictured right are Collins and Samsa celebrating after the second goal.  The Panthers headed hungrily into the second half leading 2-1.

Keeping the Red Wolves' to a shotless second half, the Panthers had seven more chances on goal to add to their six first-half opportunities.  Nine minutes into the second half, Eli Lockwood sent a long pass up to Caleb Anderson in the center of the field.  Caleb touched the ball to the right, forcing the goalkeeper off of the center of his line, and then sent a crisp shot across the frame of the goal and into the back left corner of the net.  Caleb now has 4 goals for the Panthers and Eli Lockwood has 3 assists.  Elatedly leading 3-1 with 20 minutes remaining, the Panthers played well-organized and containing defense to close out the game.  Morgan Collins was again impenetrable for the Panthers defense, and Tyler Taubenheim played aggressively as a central defender, winning balls out of the air and putting fast pressure on incoming attackers.  Pictured right are standout players from the game, Eli Lockwood, Tyler Taubenheim, and Morgan Collins.

Bowen Collins

The Player of The Game was Bowen Collins, who, as in most games, shifted from a central defender to an attacking position.  Not only versatile, Bowen is also confident in his ability to dominate at forward and finish shots on goal.  Bowen truly stood out on Tuesday night.  Continuous hustle, determination, and a will to win earned him the title of Player of the Game and the coaches hope that his goal-scoring floodgates have now been broken.  Great game, Bowen.

The Panthers begin Conference play on Wednesday at home against opponent Oxford Webb and are determined to add another game to their winning streak.  We hope you'll join us.

*A big thanks to Viviane Feldman, OHS Yearbook photographer, for the game photos!

Panthers earn a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bartlett Yancey

As a result of solid defense, smart, simple soccer, and steadfast goalkeeping, the Panthers enthusiastically traveled home Wednesday night with their second win of the season.  Due to windy conditions in Yanceyville, the Panthers opted not to play balls in the air and chose instead to play crisp, close passes on the ground. Working through one side of the field before sending a long cross worked for the Panthers, as they moved around the Buccaneers with a much more relaxed and controlled style of play.  One- and two-touch passes dominated the Panthers' play Thursday night, with the majority of the attacks coming from the wings as opposed to straight up through the center of the field.  The center midfielders redistributed plays through the center quickly, finding forwards in the corners up top.

As always, the Panthers' attacking options started from a solid, quick-thinking defensive line, run by Morgan Collins, Hector Paredes, Tyler Taubenheim, Chris Lamay, and Finn Hubbs for the majority of the game.  The defense looked much sharper Thursday night at picking up marks quickly, redistributing balls out wide, and calling for the drop passes to give the midfielders easy options.  The coaches are ecstatic to see how far the defense has come in just over a month of play and practice.

Austin Goehring

Outshooting Bartlett Yancey 11-2, the Panthers found their forwards through seams in the Buccaneer defense.  Caleb Anderson again dominated at the forward position, totaling 6 shots on frame.  Just over half-way into the first half, the Panthers had a corner kick from the right side that Eli Lockwood lofted over everyone in the box.  Austin Goehring, playing outside left midfield and picking up the far side of the box on the corner kick, ran through the ball just as it landed and touched it into the far side goal, giving the Panthers momentum to finish the first half with a strong lead.

The second half was hard-fought.  After a quick barrage of Bartlett Yancey attacks early in the second half, the Panthers settled down and started making concise plays up the sidelines.  With fifteen minutes left, the Panthers switched from their attacking 4-3-3 to a defensive 4-4-2, pulling Bowen Collins out of a forward position and back to defense.  In the last few minutes of the game, the Panthers had two narrowly missed chances, one by RJ Jackson that just nicked the crossbar and another by Caleb Anderson that chipped the Buccaneer goalkeeper and was on its way over the line before a Bartlett Yancey defender scrambled to the goal to make a goal-saving bicycle kick.  The Panthers rounded out the last fifteen minutes with tight defense and held on to their 1-0 lead.

Gerardo Figueroa

There were two Players of the Game, both who split time at outside left midfield and took turns taking on players with confident moves up the sideline.  Austin Goehring (#31, pictured above left) and Gerardo Figueroa (#33, pictured right) both had excellent games, Austin with his speed at outside midfield and commitment to getting back and marking up, and Gera with his newfound understanding of when to take defenders on and when to play the early pass inside.  Both players made some excellent opportunities for the Panthers, and Austin finished the one goal that sent the Panthers home with a win.  Great games, Austin and Gera!

The Panthers go into the weekend with a day off on Friday to catch up on work and recuperate.  With five players either coming out of being sick or starting to get sick, the Panthers need to make sure that they are 100% healthy by Monday for practice.  Rest and hydrate.  The JV Men's soccer team plays Cedar Ridge for the second time at home on Tuesday at 5 pm, and the Panthers are champing at the bit for their third upset.

Reminder: Saturday Practice this weekend from 9-11:30!

Please be reminded that there will be Saturday practice this weekend from 9-11:30am.  All players should bring tennis shoes as well as cleats.  Please contact Coach Hunter if there are any concerns or conflicts!  Thanks!

Panthers fall 5-1 to Northern Durham

Caleb Anderson on a breakaway

After a long Labor Day weekend and a cancelled game and practice Tuesday due to the weather, the OHS JV Men’s soccer team didn’t come out as strongly as they’d hoped to on Wednesday night.  A quick Northern Durham goal early in the first half put the Panthers at a disadvantage—one that, unfortunately, they couldn’t pull themselves out of. 

Going into the second half down 2-0, the Panthers recharged briefly and saw some flashes of drive from Bowen Collins, Morgan Collins, Chris Lamay, Gerardo Figueroa, Caleb Anderson, Eli Lockwood, and Trevor Samsa, but not enough to bring the Panthers a victory.  With twenty minutes left, Trevor Samsa made a stellar bending cross from the outside left midfield to forward Caleb Anderson (pictured above left), who cleanly touched the ball and put it perfectly in the back of the net, making the second textbook Samsa-Anderson combination goal of the season.

With the score 2-1, the Panthers momentarily fought as if a comeback was close on the horizon.  However, as Northern Durham netted their third goal, the Panthers collapsed for the first time yet this season—dropping heads, walking, and playing as though they were settling for a loss.  In the next fifteen minutes, Northern Durham finished two more goals to make it a 5-1 game.

What is to be taken from this game is not simply a loss, but a reminder: one must always play as though a win is possible, regardless of the score.  A comeback happens one goal at a time.  If a player perceives the comeback to be four total goals instead of just playing one goal at a time, the task seems insurmountable.  The reality of the situation is that the Panthers scored two goals in the last 15 minutes to beat Eastern Alamance, and Northern Durham scored 3 goals in the last 15 minutes to make it 5-1 instead of 2-1 against Orange Wednesday night—meaning, simply, that anything can happen in less than 15 minutes in a soccer game.  We've all seen it happen.  It is possible.  If the team thinks of it as such—that anything can happen in 15 minutes if you just take it one goal at a time—then that “insurmountable task” should seem that much more feasible.  Regardless of the score, the team should always play as though the win possible.  That is the type of team that the Panthers have chosen to be.

The Panthers recognized their shortcomings Wednesday after the game, discussed multiple plans for improvement, committed to being a team that never gives up again, and quickly took back to the field.  Eight days until the next game meant 8 fitness repetitions, and the team started their comeback immediately, sprinting 8 times as the Varsity team warmed up for their game.  With seven days until the team plays Bartlett Yancey away, it seems certain that some positive changes are in the works.

SOCCER GAME VS. WALTER WILLIAMS CANCELLED TODAY, 9/6

All soccer players and parents,
The game for today against Walter Williams has been cancelled due to
thunderstorms and a tornado warning in the area.  The game has not yet
been rescheduled.  You will be informed as soon as it is.  There will
be NO practice today either.  Hopefully the weather will clear up
tomorrow and we'll see you at the game against Northern Durham.
Use this time to get ahead on your homework!
Thanks,
Coach Hunter

Meet the JV Men's Soccer 2011 Captains!

Chris Lamay

The JV Panthers soccer players selected three captains for the 2011 season on Friday.  The captains will represent the team on the field as liaisons from the coaches to the team as well as spokesmen to the officials.  They will reflect the team as positive leaders, hard workers, and dedicated student-athletes this season.  The three captains have all shown great leadership, positivity, and a strong work ethic throughout the season.  Please help us to congratulate RJ Jackson, Chris Lamay and Eli Lockwood as the 2011 JV Men's soccer captains.  Congratulations, RJ, Chris, and Eli!

RJ Jackson

Eli Lockwood

The Panthers play Walter Williams at 5pm tomorrow at home and are excited to see all of their hard work start to come to fruition.

Panthers snap drought with 2-1 victory over Eastern Alamance

After a full week of practice, the Orange High JV Panthers came out Wednesday night and broke their 4-game winless streak with a thrilling victory over Eastern Alamance.  Alamance, known to run a quick-moving and fast-passing soccer program, had defeated the Panthers 3-1 in the Panthers' first game of the season, and got plenty of shots off early in the first half.  The Panthers readjusted, focusing on not chasing the ball in Alamance's defensive half and containing dribblers as they moved into the Orange High defensive area.  Jorge Lopez (pictured below left) started in goal for the Panthers and came out immediately as a force to be reckoned with.  Coming out on breakaways to slide hard and early set the tone for the Panthers' defense, admonishing Alamance to think twice about entering Lopez's goal box.

Down 1-0 at halftime off of a solid, unassisted goal by Justin Zuber, Alamance's leading scorer, the Panthers switched their lineup from a defensive 4-4-2 to a more attacking 4-3-3, moving Tyler Taubenheim to the back line, sending Bowen Collins up to forward, and running the midfield with the lone center midfielder as either Jace Krogstad or RJ Jackson.  The three forwards (Caleb Anderson, Bowen Collins, and Trevor Samsa, alternated with Brandon Clark, Gabriel Munoz, and Juan Torres), started to get a few more chances up top as balls were distributed early to the wings by midfielders and defenders alike.  Brad Barbee and Daniel Allred both played in goal during the second half, making spectacular saves.

However, with 15 minutes left, the Panthers were still down 1-0 and it seemed as though it might just be another hard-fought yet tough loss for the team.  Then, off of a pass from the back left (Chris Lamay, #42) to the left outside midfielder, (Austin Goehring, #31), Goehring took a long, fast dribble up the entire half of the field, juking two Alamance players before getting a beautiful cross off of his left foot in front of the goal.  Caleb Anderson (#17) took a one-time shot that ricocheted off of the right post and then he scrambled for the rebound.  Cutting the ball behind his standing leg, he ripped a left-footed shot off low and into the right corner of the net.  Tied 1-1, the Panthers took their momentum and started pounding the Alamance defense, knowing that a win was possible.

With seven minutes left, the Panthers had a corner kick from the right side of the field that soared in low and Caleb Anderson, great new addition to the team, had a one-touch shot right into the net.  The Panthers exploded in excitement, quickly switched back to a tight-marking 4-4-2, and Jorge Lopez went back into the goal.  Five minutes out from a win, Eastern Alamance had a 1v1 breakaway to goal, and Lopez came out with a crucial slide to save the Panthers.

After 70 minutes, Orange High finished the game notching 18 shots, 10 saves, 2 great goals, and finally, their first win.

Although the entire team got playing time and the entire team played great soccer, there were two outstanding Players of the Game, both whom were playing their first games of the season last night.  Caleb Anderson, shown pictured right, not only capitalized on his goal-scoring ability, but had the highest total number of shots for the Panthers with 10 shots during the game.  Caleb will certainly continue to be a striking force for the Panthers.  Goalkeeper Jorge Lopez, pictured above left, also had a breakout game for Orange High School, dominating the goal, diving fast, sliding hard, communicating with the defense, and sending over-half-field punts and long-distance throws out after a save.  The Panthers can't wait to see more of Jorge in action.

The team heads into another week of practice (again with conditioning Thursday and Friday) before two home games next week.  Tuesday, the Panthers will play Walter Williams, and Wednesday, the Panthers will face Northern Durham for the second time this season... hopefully duplicating their comeback victory against Eastern Alamance.  Hope to see you there!

Correction: Inter-Squad Scrimmage Monday, 4pm

Apologies for the mix-up, but due to regulations, we can no longer scrimmage another school once the season has begun.  Therefore, we will have an inter-squad scrimmage this afternoon during regular practice time, from 4:15-6:15 pm.  Thank you for understanding.

Friendly Scrimmage vs. Cedar Ridge at 6pm on Monday, August 29th!

The OHS JV Men's Soccer Team will be scrimmaging the Cedar Ridge High School JV Men's Soccer Team at 6pm at home on Monday.  Players should be ready to begin warming up at 5pm.  A classroom will be available for players to work on homework, study, or go over soccer plays with Coach Hunter from 4-5pm on Monday.

Feel free to come out to this free and friendly scrimmage!

*Note: If any parents would like to volunteer to help officiate the center or the sidelines, please let Coach Hunter know.

Both Games vs. Graham cancelled (Weds., August 24th and Monday, August 29th)

Unfortunately, both games against Graham High School have been cancelled due to the fact that Graham does not have a JV team this year.  The JV coaches are trying to arrange a scrimmage between now and the next game, Wednesday, August 31st, against Eastern Alamance and will be sure to keep you posted as that progresses.  The team will run through multiple things at practice between now and then, including getting wide, controlled dribbling at speed, finishing, and winning balls out of the air on the run.  The team will also taper fitness, conditioning heavily Thursday and Friday and lightening conditioning into early next week.  All players should bring running shoes to practice on Friday.

All practices from now on will run from 4-6 pm.

The Panthers recognized the importance of playing until the last whistle was blown in a 3-2 loss Monday night against Cedar Ridge

Coming out strong and scoring the first goal of the game against cross-town opponents Cedar Ridge certainly started the Panthers off with an excited and confident tone on Monday night.  Brandon Clark (34, shown dribbling at right) had an excellent goal where he dribbled past a defender and then shot the ball into the far-side of the goal to put the Panthers in the lead.  However, the Panthers let up slightly afterwards, possibly due to premature confidence of the win.  Bowen Collins was moved to an attacking position in the hopes of pulling the team ahead even further, but his presence on defense was sorely missed as Cedar Ridge notched two quick goals before the close of the half.

The Panthers came back in the second half refusing to settle for a loss, and battled hard for possession of the ball.  Eli Lockwood had another great game, just barely missing a goal by less than a foot, Trevor Samsa had multiple close calls, including one free kick that soared just to the right of the frame of the goal, and Bowen Collins had multiple chances up top.  RJ Jackson won many 50/50 balls in the center and Gerardo Figueroa tried his hand at an outside midfield position. The defense stayed tight in the back with Tyler Taubenheim, Hector Paredes, Morgan Collins, and Finn Hubbs holding Cedar Ridge offsides a total of six times and making tough tackles and steals throughout the game.  The defensive players are coming together exceptionally and playing with much more quickness, agility, and intention.   

About 20 minutes into the second half, Brandon Clark sent a ball soaring towards the goal after receiving a throw-in from Gerardo Figueroa that inched over the top of the 6'1" goalie's hands (Brandon is shown below, watching the ball as it approaches the goal, and after, as it hits the back of the net). 

The Panthers celebrated jubilantly but quickly remembered that with only about 20 minutes left, the score was still a tie.  The Orange High JV Men's team ended up outshooting Cedar Ridge 14-8, having 3 more corner kicks than their opponent, and dominating possession of the rest of the game, but with 14 minutes left, Cedar Ridge claimed their third goal with a shot low and to the bottom left corner.  Brad Barbee, with his vision obstructed due to all of the players in front of him, couldn't get to the ball in time before it hit the goal.  Brad had 8 crucial saves throughout the game. 

The Panthers walked away with their heads up, knowing that they played a great game of soccer.

There were two Players of the Game, one offensive and one defensive.  Brandon Clark showed flashy moves while dribbling through the Cedar Ridge players and a knack for finding the goal (twice!) on Monday night, and the coaches are excited to see more of him at forward throughout the season.  Morgan Collins, shown right dribbling past two defenders, has come to be a star outside defender this year.  His decision-making is precise and fast, sometimes playing the ball over the top and sometimes passing wide to the outside.  His tenacity and sheer refusal to get beaten by another team's forward truly makes him a great natural defender.  His free-kicks into the forwards have come close to being assists on goals, and the coaches have no doubt that one game, one of those kicks will turn out to be exactly that.  Congratulations to both Brandon and Morgan; great games!

The Panthers had a hard but important practice Tuesday (learning give-and-go's, overlap passes, the urgency of marking up, and shooting) and head into tonight's game against Graham ready to go.  The game is at home at 5 pm.  We hope to see you there!

*Note: Players will be sent to the Orange High School Open House in shifts, starting at 4:30.

Meet the JV Men's Soccer Staff!

The JV Men's Soccer Team is being led by a group of very excited and dedicated coaches this season.  Along with Varsity Coaches Mark Jagentenfl and Palmer Bowman, Coach Hunter is joined by Jonathan Whitford (Asst. JV Coach, Goalkeeping Coach) and Katie Bumgarner (Student Manager, Student Trainer) for the 2011 season.  Please feel free to speak with any of the coaches at anytime after games or practices.

Coach Whitford (below left) joins the program as an avid soccer enthusiast and player.  Whitford has put in many years working for Eurosport/Soccer Endeavors in Hillsborough and has picked up a pair of sharp eyes for game details and intricacies.  His assistance in planning strategy and game lineups will be greatly valued throughout the season.  Coach Whitford also serves as the Varsity and JV goalkeeping coach, and has been working with all of the Orange High goalkeepers since the beginning of the season.  Much progress can already be seen as a result of Coach Whitford's hard work.

Katie Bumgarner ("Bumm," above right) joins the Men's Soccer Program as an Orange High School Senior.  She is a member of the OHS Varsity Women's Soccer team and has played soccer for nine years.  She plans to attend Gardner Webb for Athletic Training and is excited to work both with Coach King (Orange High Athletic Trainer) as well as both Men's teams throughout the season.  You will probably see her by the bench during games taking many of the game stats throughout the season.

Panthers close out first week with a late-game 2-0 loss against Bartlett Yancey

Two late-game goals were enough to send the Panthers home tired and frustrated Thursday evening against opponent Bartlett Yancey.  Despite the addition of new defensive player Finn Hubbs (pictured left), and great saves by both goalkeepers (Daniel Allred and Brad Barbee), the Orange High Men's defensive line was worn thin after multiple half-field sprints back towards the goal in the second half.  The defense plans to work on a staggered flat-back 4 today in practice in order to better anticipate the long balls over the top and hopefully save some of the players from having to make those desperate defensive sprints.  Both goalkeepers again showed great composure on the field.

A few lineup changes are still in the works, with Bowen Collins trying out a forward position, Morgan Collins giving a go at holding center midfield, and Gerardo Figueroa developing a 2-touch game as a center midfielder.  The coaches were proud of the progress this week--the team has shown much improvement, both technically as well as in their amount of hustle.  If the Panthers keep up their desire to play hard for a win and the element of fight in their level of play, it is certain that a victory is just around the corner.

The Player of the Game was RJ Jackson (pictured dribbling right and heading below left), who is great with the ball at his feet and is hungry for solid defensive steals.  He took some advice from the coaches to play his passes early and worked it immediately into his play, giving the Panthers some more offensive attacks up the sidelines.  RJ is a threat as both a forward and a midfielder, and his level of toughness was unmatched last night.

The Panthers head into one more practice this week with a few things in mind: less dribbling and earlier passes, keeping the traps closer to their bodies, staggering the defensive line against speedy opponents, set pieces (corner kicks, goal kicks, etc.), and, last but not least, fitness.  The team faces cross-town opponents Cedar Ridge at home on Monday.  Please join us!

Keep up the hard work, gentlemen.

A big thanks to Mary Driebeek, local photographer, for some great shots of the game!

Panthers fall to Northern Durham in close 1-0 game

The JV Men's Soccer Team fought a good battle against Northern Durham tonight, putting the pressure on early.  They focused on getting the defense up quickly and the ball out wide.  The defensive strategy worked, pulling ten offsides calls against Northern Durham and preventing the Panthers from having to make long runs back towards their own goal.  Despite the high temperatures, the Panthers played hard and with great tenacity.  The team has already made great progress on winning 50/50 balls and making hard tackles, especially in the center of the field.  Adding Morgan Collins as a central midfielder helped the Panthers gain control and then distribute the ball to the outside midfielders, Austin Goehring and Eli Lockwood, who each played excellent games both offensively and defensively.

The team as a whole showed much improvement--tactically with Bowen Collins and Hector Paredes moving the defensive players up quickly, defensively with Chris Lamay and RJ Jackson making solid defensive tackles, and technically with Trevor Samsa, Gerardo Figueroa, and Brandon Clark dribbling through Northern Durham players with great confidence.  Despite many chances, the Panthers struggled to finish with a goal.  But, as is the case with soccer, sometimes you can play a great game (take many shots, control the game) and still come out with a loss.

Brad Barbee played an excellent game, notching 11 more saves, and only allowing one goal off of a corner kick late into the second half.

The Player of the Game was newcomer Eli Lockwood (pictured right), whose speed, awareness, and aggressiveness created multiple opportunities along the right flank.  Lockwood persisted on any ball that was in his zone, recovering almost all of them and then sending the ball up to a forward along the line.  His hustle and determination were excellent, and the quickness of his decision-making has already vastly improved.  The coaches look forward to more steadfast playing from Lockwood in future games.

The Panthers have one more game this week on Thursday against Bartlett Yancey at home at 5 pm, and they are looking for their first big win.