Photo Credit: Nick Gentile[/caption]So far in the English Premier League, there have been many upsets and surprises. Chelsea currently leads the league with nine wins this season, with Southampton in close second with eight wins. Manchester City is the heavy favorite this season, in third place, and needs three more wins to tie with Chelsea. Chelsea’s Diego Costa has had nine goals this season, helping Chelsea to stay in the lead.
Chelsea has been in the lead a lot because of Diego Costa, the Spanish striker, and Oscar, the 23-year-old midfielder. The team lineup works well together, and their teamwork has foiled many teams' plans. Diego Costa has been the leading scorer on Chelsea, widening their lead in the league.
Burnley FC is in last place in the league. Being the smallest town in England to have its own Premier League team, it has had trouble recruiting players to combat the upper ranked teams. Obviously, size matters, as larger clubs have more fans, which generates more income, which leads to more players being recruited. Media also plays a role in recruiting, though not as much as leagues here in the United States. Soccer cannot have timeouts like football, so it cannot have as many commercial breaks, as you can miss things during a commercial break.
Fans in Fulham, London are definitely enjoying themselves while their team completely dominates the league. Stamford Bridge stadium is a sea of blue as Chelsea beats teams like Liverpool (2-1) and ties good teams like Manchester United (1-1). Fans are also waiting for the number one and number two teams to play--Chelsea being number one, and Southampton being number two as of November.
Chelsea is also awaiting their new goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who says, “It felt [like] the right moment to go to Chelsea. I was ready.” In the eleven games that he has played in so far this season, he has 25 saves. Two of those games were what soccer fans call clean sheets, meaning he had no shots to save in the games.
The Premier League is always changing though, and players will be traded, kicked, celebrated, and revered. Teams will rise and fall, and Chelsea’s reign may end in a heartbeat. In soccer, there is never a definite score or lead, and the excitement will hopefully continue this season.
So far this season, both teams have been steadily improving and getting closer and closer as teammates. There is more communication on the field, and teammates are collaborating and figuring out clever plays for certain teams. The synopsis for the season and the lists of team members can be found below.
Aug. 18 Home v Riverside (Rained-out)
Aug. 20 Home v Graham (Both team Loss)
Aug. 25 Away @ Bartlett Yancey (Varsity Win)
Aug. 27 Home v Eastern Alamance (Both team Loss)
Sept. 3 Home v Bartlett Yancey (Varsity Win)
Sept. 4 Away @ Eastern Alamance (Varsity Loss)
Sept. 8 Away @ Cardinal Gibbons (Both team loss)
Varsity Game
Both Team Game
JV Roster
# Name Grade
3 Cameron Krogstad Freshman
4 Ewan McCallum Freshman
5 Luke Wirzba Freshman
6 Hector Rodriguez Freshman
7 Owen Downes Sophomore
8 Ali Rezk Sophomore
9 Juan Jaime Junior
10 Cyrus Rainey Junior
11 Omar Landeros Freshman
13 Jamar Davis Freshman
14 Omar Medina Freshman
16 Noah Miller (GK) Freshman
17 Jesus Chavez Freshman
18 Michael Dubis Freshman
19 Thomas Sikes Freshman
20 Bryan Torres Freshman
23 Olivier Dauverd Freshman
24 Isaiah Dupre (GK) Freshman
25 Caleb Gray Junior
Varsity Roster
# Name Grade
1 Jonathan McLamb Senior
2 Rowan Nygard Junior
3 Davis Dixon Sophomore
4 Robin Walz Junior
5 Daniel Gallardo Junior
6 Morgan Collins Senior
7 Joey Ricca (GK) Senior
8 Gerardo Figueroa Senior
9 Adam Medina Junior
10 Luis DeLara Senior
11 Alfredo Rodriguez (GK) Sophomore
12 Lionel Reid-Shaw Junior
14 Zack Matthews Junior
16 Malcolm Phillips Freshman
17 Eli Lockwood Senior
20 Chandler Compton Junior
22 Bowen Collins Senior
Photo Credit: Carley Overman[/caption]"Don't be scared, get involved,” 17-year-old Amanda Tavares wants to say to her freshman self. She was born in New York with one younger brother and one older brother. She moved to Hillsborough when she was five. Tavares is now a senior with many responsibilities and dreams.
She has been playing soccer for four years, and she is also a Link Crew member. Not only is she photo editor for the school newspaper, but she is also the copy editor for the yearbook. Typically, copy editing involves correcting spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc, so she spends a lot of her time editing other people’s words.
Just like the average senior, Tavares is ready to graduate and get out of high school. She hopes to attend the University of South Carolina in June. Her goal is to become a pediatric nurse. Tavares works well with others and makes many new friends in the process.
Megan Joyner, a senior and returning member of the Den Echoes staff, spends most of her free time on the soccer field. Joyner has played soccer for 13 consecutive years, and she has already committed to playing college-level soccer at Western Carolina University (WCU).
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Photo Credit: Amanda Tavares[/caption]Athletics come naturally to Joyner, but she hopes to improve her overall strength and technical skills before joining the Western Catamounts in Fall 2015. “I have done a few athletic labs and training sessions that will help to prepare me for soccer in college,” Joyner stated. In addition to preparing for WCU soccer, Joyner anxiously awaits stepping onto the college’s field. “I am excited to be a part of the team and travel as a whole,” Joyner said. This future WCU Catamount has big plans ahead of her.
While athletics are a big part of Joyner’s life, her academics take top priority. Joyner is in the top 10 of the senior class, and she looks forward to expanding her educational career. When asked about future college studies, Joyner replied, “I have a few interests, but the medical field seems to interest me most. I will most likely choose my major after freshman or sophomore year.” Although undecided on her major, Joyner fully believes that Western is the perfect environment for college courses.
Joyner still makes time for family, friends, and adventurous activities; she especially loves to try new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects. “My mom and I are really crafty and love to experiment with new room decorations. Pinterest is my go-to website for making gifts or amping my bedroom,” Joyner explained. With a crafty hand and plenty of DIY’s in mind, Joyner is confident that her Western dorm will be a stylish place to store her cleats.
With Joyner’s knowledge of sports and educational background, she will be a large contributor for the Den Echoes during her senior year.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Joyner.[/caption]Friday, May 2, the Lady Panther soccer teams played the Northwood Chargers at OHS. The JV game kicked off at 5 pm and varsity followed at 6:45 pm. It was a perfect 70 degree night for an intense match against a new conference rival. Despite the ideal conditions and packed stands, the Panthers weren’t able to pull through with a victory.
The JV team was prepared for another close game against Northwood, after coming close to a victory in their previous game. Being evenly matched, the ball was possessed by both teams for most of the half. However, midway through, the Chargers went up by one goal, due to a miscommunication between the goalie and center-mid on the Orange team. Thinking the ball was out of bounds, Aaron Collins passed the ball back to the keeper for a goal kick, who let it slip behind her. Aside from the keeper error, the Panthers had a clean game and finished the half with a score of 1-0. By the start of the second half, the Panthers were determined to come back. Lexi Mignosa, starting center-mid for OHS, controlled the ball and drove it up the field. Despite the tenacity that the Panthers showed, the Northwood forwards were too much for their backline, and the Chargers scored two quick goals, ending the game with a 3-0 victory. Mileah Shriner, one of the goalies for Orange, said, “Everyone played really hard. It was a good game.”
Following the JV game, the varsity team came out seeking revenge for their previous matchup against Northwood where they suffered a defeat 3-0. The game was evenly matched and tied at 0-0 for the majority of the half. But with about 20 minutes left in the half, #13 for Northwood, Haley Piester, received a long ball over the top of the Panther’s backline and scored on a breakaway, making the score 1-0 in favor of the Chargers at halftime. The score, however, did not accurately reflect the first half, with the Panthers keeping the majority of the possession and controlling the ball on the Chargers’ defensive side. At the end of the half, the Panthers had three shots on frame, but were unable to finish any of them. At the start of the second half, the game was evenly matched with both teams possessing it on both halves of the field. However, near the middle of the second half, the Panthers broke down and allowed five more goals to slip through. The Chargers finished with a conference win, 6-0 over the Lady Panthers. The outcome did not match up with the level of play. Until the Panthers broke down in the back, the game was fairly even, with the Panthers having most of the possession.
This game was the last one for senior Tallie Philips, who will be unable to attend senior night. She had a great season as an outside defender, holding the team up and making the defense impenetrable. She was not only a huge asset, but a team captain that led the team as they progressed throughout the season. She plans to take a semester or two off after she graduates high school to travel abroad in Europe with her older sister, Mia Philips. She then hopes to attend Alamance Community College and later transfer to a larger university.
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The varsity Lady Panther soccer team played Oxford Webb, a conference rival, Wednesday, April 10. The Panthers survived with a clean escape, gaining their first conference victory. The JV and varsity teams traveled to Eagle territory to play Eastern Alamance on Friday, April 11. Both teams came out with a loss after a hard-fought game.
Wednesday the varsity team kicked off an intense match against the Oxford Webb Warriors on their home turf. They came away unscathed with a 7-0 win. The Panthers scored two quick goals within the first 10 minutes of the game, and by the end of the half they had six goals, four of them scored by the Shinnick sisters, Rachel Shinnick with one and Becca Shinnick with the other three. Ashley Badstein, the starting keeper for OHS, had a shutout in the first half, and Becca Shinnick also had a clean break in goal in the second half, tipping the ball over the goal on a close shot from the Lady Warriors.
The Warriors held strong in the second half, only conceding one goal in the last 20 minutes of the half. The Panther’s seventh goal came from Kaela Lane, a junior, who finished a cross from out wide and headed it over the keeper into the goal. The game concluded at a win, 7-0, for the Lady Panthers. This is the third conference game that the Panthers have played, however this is their first conference victory. Rowan Jaynes, a sophomore center defender for the team, said, “I thought that we were very well prepared for this game. We were able to work on the things we needed to work on and build as a team.”
Friday the OHS Panthers suffered a tough defeat against Eastern Alamance. The JV team started, coming out with a strong offensive force. After 20 minutes of evenly matched competition, the Eagles squeezed through the Panther’s back line, scoring three goals, making the final score 3-0. In an interview with Maggie Asuncion, starting center mid for the OHS team, she said, “Our goal as a team is to win our final game.” Instead of dwelling on the defeat, they are focusing on improving for their final game against Cedar Ridge.
Following the first match, the varsity team kicked off at 6:45. Before the start of the game, Eastern Alamance held a moment of silence for Desmond Piccini, a student from their school who had recently passed away. In honor of Piccini, Eastern wore blue bows in their hair, and the OHS Panthers played with green wristbands on. From the very beginning, the game was full of physicality and fierce competition, with both teams fostering a rivalry. Eastern went ahead in the first half, scoring off of a cross with a header into the corner of the goal. The score remained stagnant until the final third of the game when the Eagles finalized the score at 3-0 with two additional goals. The Panthers, who had prepared for a rematch after an earlier defeat in the season, played a solid game, although the score didn’t reflect their effort.
At the end of the week, the Panthers came out with a conference victory, further pushing them ahead in the playoff standings. Although they suffered a tough loss from Eastern Alamance, they are deciding to focus their efforts on improving for the upcoming conference games.
Photo Credit: Will Okun. Megan Joyner goes to kick the ball.[/caption]Megan Joyner, a junior at Orange High School, has recently committed to play soccer for Western Carolina University. As a junior she can’t sign with the school, but as a committee she is able to sign with WCU her senior year.
Joyner visited a number of different colleges including Messiah College in Pennsylvania; Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina; Lee University in Tennessee; and Wingate University, which is also in Charlotte. Of all of these though, she liked Western the best. “My favorite thing about Western was the atmosphere. It really felt like a family,” she said about her visit there.
Joyner started her soccer career at age five when she played on her first team, the Rainbow League in Chapel Hill. Since then, she has played on a variety of teams including the club team Triangle United. “My favorite thing about soccer is that I can stay active and I’ve met a lot of new friends along the way,” she said. “Some of my closest friendships were made through soccer.”
“I’ve played with Meg for about eight years now, that’s actually how we met,” said Rachel Shinnick, a junior on the Orange varsity soccer team. When asked about her favorite part of playing with Joyner, Shinnick said, “Meg is is such a competitive girl. She plays with a lot of heart.”
Tallie Phillips, a senior, also had something to add about Joyner’s contribution on the field. “She’s really feisty,” Phillips said. “She can be counted on and she’s also really nice.”
Joyner is looking forward to her experience as a soccer player at Western Carolina, but in the meantime she is enjoying every minute of playing with the varsity team at Orange. “The Orange soccer team is like my second family, and Coach Hunter has had a really big influence on me as a person and as a soccer player,” she said. “I’m really going to miss this team.”
Photo Credit: Megan Joyner[/caption]The Lady Panther soccer team had a busy few weeks as their conference games officially started. The varsity women’s soccer team played Northern Vance on Thursday, March 20, at 6:00 pm. The Panthers came out with a 6-0 victory on their home turf. The JV and varsity Panthers then traveled to Tiger territory on Friday, March 21, to play Chapel Hill High School. This was a tough loss for both OHS teams. Monday, March 25, the Panther team fought hard against the Cardinal Gibbons’ Crusaders. Although both OHS teams suffered a heavy loss, they did so by putting up a fierce battle.
Northern Vance was the first conference team that the Lady Panthers played in their season, and they started it out right with a clean score. They went up early in the first half, scoring a couple quick goals. Hannah Mignosa, senior, scored the first goal within 10 minutes of the game starting. Before the half concluded, the Panthers were up 4-0. As the whistle blew and the second half kicked off, the Panthers started off strong, possessing the ball. As the half continued, the Panthers scored three more goals, ending the game with a 6-0 win. Ashley Badstein, in goal for the Panthers, finished the game with a shutout.
The following day, the Panthers traveled to Chapel Hill to play the Tigers. The JV team worked hard but came out with a rough defeat, 9-0. The Tigers went up early taking the lead for the remainder of the game. The Varsity Panthers, despite their tenacity, also suffered a tough loss, 9-0. However, both teams played hard and are now preparing for payback at their next meeting.
The following Monday, March 24, the JV and varsity teams played Cardinal Gibbons at home. JV kicked off first at 5:00 pm. The Lady Panthers came away with a loss 7-0, but not without putting up a fight. Despite the score, the Crusaders had a difficult time getting past Mileah Shriner in goal for the Panthers. She said, “I think we did better than we did against Chapel Hill because we fought hard, but we still have some room to improve.” At 6:45 pm the varsity team played and held their own for most of the first half. The final score, 8-0 in favor of the Crusaders, did not reflect the effort of the Panthers. They put up a grand fight that had each team clawing for the ball throughout the game. Rowan Janes, a sophomore and center defender, held up the Panther back line, which successfully pulled Cardinal Gibbons offsides multiple times throughout the game. The game was tight up until the very end of the game, but the Panthers held on.
Although the Panthers had a difficult week, they look forward to a rematch, and the rest of their conference games.
Photo Credit: Julie Joyner. The girls line up for the beginning of the game.[/caption]The Varsity women’s soccer team played the first game of the season against Southern Durham on Wednesday, February 26. The match was hosted on the Panther’s home field at 6:45 p.m. The team came away with an 8-0 victory over Southern Durham.
Many fans came to see the Panther’s first game. OHS finally beat Southern Durham, who had taken away their state championship previously in football. The game began with a quick start as Natala Phillips, senior, scored the first goal of the match. As the first half progressed, the Panthers scored three more goals, making the score 4-0 by halftime. Junior Rachel Shinnick, #10 on the team, had a powerful game, scoring two consecutive goals of the first four. Although the Panthers took the lead early, the goal keeper for Southern Durham stopped many shots.
As the whistle blew to conclude the game, the OHS varsity team filed off the field, proud of their first win of the season. Southern Durham no longer claimed the victory over OHS and the Panthers were proud to say that they were undefeated for the first time in four years. Junior Lexi Moyer said, “I think that our first game went pretty well and I think the rest of the season we will improve a lot.”
Photo Credit: Megan Joyner.[/caption]Update: Currently all try-outs for sports are postponed.
Spring sports are about to start at OHS, as preseason comes to a halt and tryouts begin. Orange High School offers a wide range of spring sport teams, including women’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, track, baseball, softball, men’s tennis, and golf. However, to get ready for the big day, athletes might need to know a few inside secrets about tryouts, what to expect, and what to bring. The following article details each sport and gives some pointers from each coach.
Women’s soccer tryouts will be on Monday, February 17 through Wednesday, February 19. They will be held on the OHS soccer field from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day. It is highly recommended by the coach that potential team members attend each day. It is also important that they have valid physical and soccer eligibility forms and that the forms are turned in before showing up to tryouts. If anyone is in need of any of the soccer forms, they should see Coach Hunter in room 407 as soon as possible. To prepare for the upcoming tryouts, it is important that athletes are in physical shape and prepared to work hard. On the day of tryouts, they should meet at the OHS soccer field ready to go by 4:00. Tryouts will be 4:00 to 6:30 each day. In order to be prepared, it is necessary to bring clothes to run in, tennis shoes, cleats, shin guards, and soccer socks. It is alright if athletes don’t have cleats and other soccer apparel. They just need to show up in an outfit that will help them do their best.
The men’s tennis team will be hosting tryouts February 17 through 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the OHS tennis courts. It is important to bring tennis shoes, athletic apparel, and a tennis racket. It may be cold, so athletes should dress appropriately for the weather. Coach Webb is looking for players who have a passion for the game and the team. All players are welcome, whether they are just learning or want to improve their game. He said, “Be ready to come out every day ready to work, compete, and have fun.”
Baseball tryouts will be held on Monday, February 17. They will be held on the OHS baseball field from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. In order to be prepared for the event, people interested in trying out should bring baseball pants, sleeves, a sweatshirt, a jacket, and a baseball cap. They should also have the necessary equipment; baseball gloves, bats, helmets, etc. As a special insider tip as to what Coach Dease expects in a player, he said, “You need to be able to play the game very well.”
Softball tryouts will be February 17 through 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m on the softball fields. Coach Denise wants to remind all players to show up with paperwork and physicals filled out. In preparation for the upcoming event, players will need to wear long pants and any other clothing appropriate for the weather. In addition, they will need to bring softball gear such as gloves, bats, catcher’s equipment, helmets, and any other equipment necessary for their best-suited position. Tryouts will include an extensive skills evaluation of fastpitch softball, which includes throwing accuracy and speed, hitting, bunting, base running, sliding, fielding logistics, and overall comprehension of the game.
The lacrosse team will host tryouts February 17 through 19, from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m. Players should meet at the OHS field house prepared and ready to play. They need to bring tennis shoes and any lacrosse gear that they own. If they don’t have all of the gear, there will be some at the tryout for them to use. The most important thing to bring, according to Coach O’Neal, is a “good attitude.” Tryouts will be very competitive and will include skill and fitness evaluations. Coaches will also be looking at prospective positions for each player and will be deciding which one best suits the needs of the team. Coach O’Neil said, “Obviously, we are looking for skilled lacrosse players, but what people may not know is that we are also looking for athletes who may be new to lacrosse, but have a good attitude and want to learn the game.”
Track began for the indoor track participants on Thursday, February 6, and opened to the rest of the athletes on Friday, February 7 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Players should come dressed in appropriate clothes for the weather and bring tennis shoes, spikes, and any other equipment for specific events. Coach Joubert said, “We want athletes to come with an open mind expecting to learn that they are good at something they did not necessarily consider.” Although the team is looking for athletes, they are also in need of computer experts to record results. In the next week, the coaches will hold a meeting for parents and athletes once they find a date that works for the majority of participants.
Golf will start their season on February 12 at 4:00 p.m. with practice at the Occoneechee golf course. It is necessary to bring golf clubs and appropriate clothing. On the following Monday, the team will start to play. If potential team members have any questions or concerns, they should speak to Coach Moser.
Athletes should remember to show up with a valid physical and be prepared for each and every day. Finally, they should relax, have fun, and work hard.
Article by Jonah Neville[/caption]Amanda Tavares, veteran writer of the Den Echoes staff, has joined for another semester of working hard and representing Orange High School. Since this is her third year on the staff, she has become a well-developed journalist and strives to be the best journalist she can be. When asked why she has decided to take the course for a third straight year, Tavares replied, “I have really enjoyed the class the last couple of years, and it always helps when you have a great teacher that helps you develop to be the best reporter you can be.”
Outside of newspaper, Tavares enjoys playing soccer, reading, and shopping. Tavares says, “At a young age, my family introduced me to soccer and, ever since I can remember I have loved to play it.” Tavares’ love for soccer was only heightened when she visited her family in Portugal, where soccer is a very popular sport. Tavares says that her visit to Portugal was an amazing experience overall and she hopes to return there one day. Tavares was intrigued about the similarities and differences between American and Portuguese cultures. When she was asked if she would rather shop in America or Portugal, she replied, “I’ll shop anywhere with cute clothes.”
After high school, Tavares intends to pursue a career in mass communication. She is looking at colleges all the way from New York to South Carolina. She still is not sure about going to a two-year or four-year college, but she thinks she has plenty of time to decide on that in the future.
With mass communication in her future, she hopes honing the skills that she has developed in the past few years will help her reach where she wants to go in life.
Joyner does not know what college she wants to go to, although she is currently visiting colleges that interest her. “I really want to [play soccer in college],” she said, but she also said that she isn’t sure what God’s plan is for her yet.
Joyner said that her travel team practices three to four times a week from September to December and plays games on the weekends. During the school season, she has the weekends off but practices every day after school.
When asked what team she likes more, Joyner was unable to answer definitively. She said that her travel team is better in some ways “because you grow friendships” and she has known people on the team for many years, but the OHS team is better because it is “really relaxing… [You can] try more positions. There’s more school spirit.”
The soccer player who has inspired and influenced her the most is Rachel Buehler, a member of the US women’s soccer team. “[She’s at] the top of the top,” Joyner said. Buehler is important to Joyner because she, like Joyner, is a defender. Joyner called her “really down to earth” and a “really good person.” She “plays the style that I like to play,” Joyner elaborated.
Joyner’s brother, Hunter Joyner, is another influential person in her life. He “played all the way up to college and was a great influence and model for me,” she stated.
Joyner is a devoted Christian, and she believes that going to church with her friends and family is probably the biggest part of her life. She sometimes likes to go running and was on the indoor track team last year. She also enjoys sewing and making crafts.
Brad Barbee attempts to block a kick. Photo Credit: Nick Gentile[/caption]The OHS men’s soccer team went head to head against Cedar Ridge High School on Wednesday, October 23. The senior night festivities started at 6:30 pm and the match started at 6:45 pm. Although the mighty Panthers fought hard, they were defeated by the Red Wolves 1-3.
During the match, the Panthers started out strong by taking advantage of a penalty kick. Mitchell Pittman took the shot and scored making it the only goal scored during the first half. The second half of the game was when Cedar Ridge took the advantage by scoring three goals. Despite the loss, Pittman said, “I felt like the team as a whole played well. [Cedar Ridge] just played better in the second half.” When Pittman was asked about the goal he scored, he said, “It was exhilarating and intense. I just wanted to say I scored on senior night.”
The seniors recognized were Brad Barbee, Sam Ferry, Jace Krogstad, Tyler Taubenheim, Adam Hackett, Brandon Clark, Silas Anderson, Trevor Sama, Mitchell Pittman, Jaime Figueroa, and Jaden Vines. When Samsa was asked about senior night, he said, “I felt very emotional,” while jokingly adding, “I almost broke down.” Pittman said that emotions were high for the team.
The men’s soccer team ended the year with a record of 9-11-1 and earned a spot in the playoffs.
Photo Credit: Mr. Okun[/caption]September 11, 2013, the Orange High School Varsity soccer team lost against the Northern Vance Vikings 0-1. This hurt the team’s overall record, dragging them down to 4-4-1(four wins, four loss and one tie).
When asked about the loss, sophomore Lionel Reid-Shaw said, “Even though we have lost our last couple games, our team is as strong as ever. We have to be set back some to realize we’re on the road to victory.” Bowen Collins stated, “No one likes losing, but sometimes it is needed to succeed. We know what we are capable of and our team is positive in preparing for our next game.”
Overall, the team has had a good start to the season and many of the players are optimistic. Reid-Shaw said, “I feel that our team this year is collectively the best we have had in a long while. When we work together we can play around most every team.” Collins also stated that the Panthers were “ambitious about this year” and when they work together they “are one of the best teams in the area.”
The next home game for the soccer team is on September 16, at 6:00 pm against Southern Vance.
The OHS women’s soccer team, with head coach Jenna Hunter, battled their way to the state playoffs. May 8, the soccer team played in the first round of the state playoffs against Western Alamance at the OHS soccer field.
Western Alamance was declared the winner with the score at 0-6. Due to the loss, the OHS women’s soccer team was knocked out of the state playoffs.
The game ended early due to thunder and lightning. However, it was only called in the second half with about five minutes left in the game.
When interviewed later, OHS junior women’s soccer team member Hannah Mignosa said, “I think we played really hard and tried our best. I love my team and really enjoyed playing with them this year.”
The team had an up and down season, but were very close to winning the majority of the games they lost. The Panthers were led by their top three scoring leaders: Shinnick, Lexi Moyer, and Devon Allen. Goalie Madison Chandler also proved to be a valuable member. There were also many back ups that played a big role throughout the season.
Freshman goalie Bethany Barbee, who when asked how it would feel to make the playoffs answered, “I would be glad to make it, to show that all of our hard work in both the preseason and regular season paid off.”
When also asked how it felt to be a freshman playing on varsity, she said “I felt like I improved a lot over the course of the season due to all the great support I got from my teammates, and felt like we accomplished a lot.”
The current standings for the junior varsity women’s soccer team is 0-4-0. Varsity’s season record so far is 2-2-1. Megan Joyner and Hannah Mignosa have scored 1 goal, Lexi Moyer has scored 2 goals, and Rachel Shinnick has scored 4 goals.
Regardless of a tough season, the girls’ spirits are still high. They have evidently made progress working together as a team. Junior varsity player Beth Barbee stated, “I feel this season our team has improved tremendously as a team through accomplishing our team and personal goals.”
The next game for varsity will be held April 9, at Southern Vance at 6 pm. Junior varsity will play at home April 10, against J.F. Webb at 5 pm.
The Orange boys soccer team played hard in their final Senior Night match against Northern Vance, Wednesday, October 24. The game ended 0-1 with Northern Vance squeaking by a goal in the last few minutes. Coach Bowman introduced the six graduating players: Jack Twomey-Kozak, Thomas Doyle, Omar Rezk, Kevin Sips, Jorge Lopez, and Edgar Asuncion. Every senior was given a flower and their parents were able to stand with them on the side of the field while Bowman talked about all the ways each player had affected the team. The bleachers and fence around the playing field was decorated with balloons, streamers, and signs for the occasion. Mr. Okun took pictures of all the seniors and their families.
The match soon began after the senior night celebration. The Panthers kept possession of the ball and made many goal attempts. At
the 19 and 26 minute marks within the first half, the men's team was very close to scoring. In the second half, the ball went back and forth between both teams until Northern Vance was able to get a goal with 4 minutes left. Although the seniors will be greatly missed, the men's team did not leave feeling defeated with three wins and three ties this season, they have high hopes for next year.
Written by Megan Joyner
The Orange High JV and varsity boys soccer teams had a busy schedule the week of September 3 with the JV playing two games and varsity playing three games in one week. The varsity team played Person High School at home on September 4, resulting in a tie at 3-3. varsity and JV played at Jordan High on September 5, ending with both teams walking away defeated. Varsity and JV played at Bartlett Yancey on September 7, ending in victory for both teams.
The varsity team fought hard against Person High School at their home field September 4 and came away with a 3-3 draw. The Panthers started the game at a steady pace, keeping most of the possession. In the middle of the second half, the Panthers tore away from the Rockets, scoring two goals. The goals were scored by sophomore Eli Lockwood and freshman Lionel Reid-Shaw. The Rockets refueled at halftime and came out ready to battle. With around twenty minutes left to play, the Person Rockets scored three quick goals. The Panthers were running out of time, now down 3-2. They toughed it out and found a gap in the Person defensive line. An Orange sophomore and center back, Bowen Collins, scored the third goal for the Panthers, tying up the game. The final whistle blew, making the final score 3-3. Brianna Hales, a junior at Orange, said, “I thought we looked really good, we were really holding the ball and moving down the field.”
September 5, the JV and varsity teams played at Jordan High School. The JV team came away with a defeat. The score was 7-0, but the Panthers fought hard throughout the game, making the Falcons earn their goals. According to a blog run by the Orange head coach, Jenna Hunter, the Panthers played good defense against Jordan. The Panthers went down 2-0 in the first half and gave up five more goals in the second half. This was a tough game for the JV team, but they plan to get revenge next time they play Jordan High School.
The varsity team also had a rough game, coming away with a 6-1 defeat. The Panthers played hard for the entire game despite their loss and showed much tenacity. RJ Jackson, junior, scored the goal for the Panthers.
The Orange Panthers traveled to Bartlett Yancey High School on September 7. The JV soccer team came out with a 2-0 win. The JV team held good possession and ended the game with two goals. The goals were scored by sophomore Joey Ricca and freshman Lionel Reid-Shaw.
The varsity Panthers soccer team came away with a 1-0 victory over the Bartlett Yancey varsity team. The two teams were both evenly matched, making for a tough competition. The goal for the Panthers was scored by junior Silas Anderson.
For further updates and schedules, visit Coach Hunter's blog at http://orangehighsoccer.blogspot.com.
The varsity Panthers came out strong, fired up and full of intensity, beating back the Red Wolves and securing a strong lead in the first half. They were passing well and working like an oiled machine, with Tyler Taubenheim, Mitchell Pittman, Omar Rezk, and Eli Lockwood each scoring a point on the Red Wolves. However, the team relaxed too much in the last half, and lost some of their former intensity. While they still played hard, the Red Wolves managed to slip some goals in and secure a win.
When varsity soccer coach Palmer Bowman and goalie Thomas Doyle were asked which play of the game was best, they both agreed that all four goals were spectacular. "It's the most we've scored all year," Coach Bowman reports. "All the goals were phenomenal - great work, lots of hustle to put us in those positions."
When Coach Bowman was asked what the team would be improving for future games, he responded that they would focus on closing out games; playing not just a good forty minutes, but a full eighty minute complete game. "We do that, we'll be dangerous," he says.
Team member Kevin Sips commented on the varsity game: "I liked our performance in the first half, but I was disappointed in the second; the whole team's performance shut down." When asked about his thoughts on the remaining season, Sips responded, "I'm hoping we'll be able to win more games and make playoffs."
Orange JV Panthers played a great game, keeping pressure on the Red Wolves for most all of the game, getting lots of shots at the goal and keeping the ball on Cedar Ridge's side of the field. The Wolves' managed to fend off the Panthers' offense until the last five minutes of the game, with Panthers' turning up the heat and going all out, scoring on Cedar Ridge and bringing home a win for Orange and a promising outlook on the rest of the season.
Bowman comments, "JV dominated. They've been progressing throughout the year, Coach Hunter is doing a great job and it's turning into wins."
When JV team member Daniel Allred was asked how he felt about the Panthers' 1-0 win, he commented, "It was pretty good, we played well and beat them. It was a close game," he said. "We scored in the final five minutes." When asked about his outlook on the season ahead, Allred made a down-to-earth goal. "I think we can win at least half our games, but there will be some hard ones."