The Paint Branch High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer team took on the Cougars from Quince Orchard High School on Wednesday September 25th.    The Panthers came into the game, hoping for an upset, while the Cougars tried to maintain an undefeated season.

The Panthers’ record stood at 2-4-1 and the Cougars going into this game were 3-0-1.  Last year, the Cougars beat the Panthers 12-0, but this was not the same Quince Orchard team, nor was it the same Paint Branch team as last year.  Both teams with another year of experience under their belts, wanted to show the other team they had come to play.

The game kicked off at 7PM under the lights.  Both teams started off strong on this chilly night.  The Panthers held the Cougars scoreless until junior Stephanie Shin scored twenty-eight minutes and thirty-six seconds into the first half that eluded the dive of Panthers’ goalkeeper Jennifer Ngo to put QO ahead 1-0.

Throughout the game, both teams’ defenses proved to be their strong points, as possession change after possession change wore both teams out.  Before the end of the first half, senior Krizia Livia added two more to the point’s column for the Cougars to give them to a commanding 3-0 lead.

The second half didn’t go exactly as planned for the Panthers, as a couple of injuries to key starters left the Panthers’ defense and midfield lines exhausted from running up and down the field all throughout game.  Quince Orchard’s depth proved to be their strength, allowing them to play fast for all ninety minutes of the game.    Livia added another goal to the stats sheet for herself as she put in a quick score for the Cougars only one minute and twenty-two seconds into the second half.

Other scorers for the Cougars included junior Samantha Sullener, freshman Jamie Fink, and senior Krista Pitts for the Cougars.  Both teams played well; however, the Cougars got the best of the Panthers again this year.