Lady Panthers Pounce, Capture 4th Straight County Title

Often times Panthers will purr as they seek out their prey.

But the Lady Panthers of the Long Valley Middle School spent this soccer season roaring through the competition.

That’s how the team netted its fourth straight Morris County Title Saturday morning against William Anin Middle School.

The icing on the championship cake, however, was the ability for LVMS to avenge a loss to William Anin from earlier in the season by winning the title game 2-0.

Heading into the tilt, the Lady Panthers were running on a hot streak of seven wins and one tie. A combined effort by Sarah Guida and Ava Mamary minding the net preserved a shutout win, as the offense attacked its opponents from the opening whistle.

Annegret Mauldin kicked off the scoring after taking an errant pass from William Anin and blasting a shot past the opposing goalie for a 1-0 first half lead.

Capping off the scoring was Emily DeGeyter, who netted her first goal of the season after spending her games making precision passes and setting up assists for her teammates. DeGeyter’s goal came off a free kick to seal the deal.

As they hoisted the trophy, the Long Valley Middle School Lady Panthers ended the season with 10 wins, two losses and two ties.

This year’s team was made up of 15 eighth graders; seven seventh graders, and two student statisticians.

The complete roster is:
Chelsea Debrot
Emily DeGeyter
Sarah Guida
Lauren Hamilton
Maggie Heslin
Caroline Hoffman
Heidi Krueger
Casey Lisa
Annie Mauldin
Emily Sellards
Maddie Selvaggi
Maggie Schaffer
Lauren Shultis
Rachel Wells
Gillian Zavaglia
Maggie Cotter
Leanne Engemann
Emily Leyson
Ava Mamary
Anise Mamary
Megan Sharkey
Jessica Timog

Stats:
Kayla Shaw
Cameron Batsides

Information provided by Lady Panthers Coach Kevin Demarest. Photo provided by Paul Hamilton.