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November 6, 2001
STAFF REPORT Tri-City Soccer's U-16 Pink Panthers clinched their third consective Western Slope State League title this past weekend with a 1-0 over Basalt in Montrose. The winning goal came on a driving header goal by Elizabeth Powell on a cross from Maddie Stephens with about three minutes to play in the match. This was a well-contested match with both teams moving the ball well up and down the field. It was a day of defense and excellent goalie play by both Panther goalie Randa Olson and the Basalt goalie. The week before, the Panthers played the Grand Mesa Blue Fire in Grand Junction also winning 1-0 with about two minutes left in the game. It was another closely contested game with both teams having trouble penetrating the solid defenses from both clubs. With two minutes remaining Brin Andrews stole the ball from a Grand Junction midfielder, passing to Maddie Stephens in the attacking front, Maddie fired a seem pass to a breaking Emelia Allee-Jumbo who was taken down from behind inside the goalie box. This gave the Panthers a penalty kick attempt. Katie Meyer took the PK, beating the diving Fire goalie just inside the left goal post for the score. "What I have learned this season from these girls is that no matter how tough the competition or how close the game may be they seem to find a way to win games," coach Marc Meyer said. "They are always competitive no matter level of team they are playing, be it a premier 1 or classic silver team." The ladies opened the season with a goal of just being in the top three teams in the league. "We essentially moved up one level of play as a U-16 team as 14 of the 18 ladies are U-15 players. After we came out winning games the girls decided they could win the league at this level also. They have been beat up a little over the last several weeks with several of them nursing sore knees, sprained ankles and other nagging injury's and all the teams the second time around have been keyed up to play them. As a team they just really hate to lose. They all contribute equally. I'm very proud of them," he added. The Panthers’ record in league play is 8-0-1. The U-16 Western Slope State League includes teams from Tri-City, Basalt, Montrose, Eagle, Grand Mesa Fire Blue U-15 and Grand Mesa Fire Gold . The members of U-16 Pink Panthers are: Meyer, Elizabeth Powell, Olson, Amy Johnson, Piedra Lightfoot, Amanda Graffis, Esther Harclerode, Jessica Love-Nichols, Darshina Benally, Savanah Tanner, Alee-Jumbo, Stephens, Andrews, Sarah Cullington, Carrie Kemp, Christina Brengle, Gina Franchini, and Karlyn Franchini. Coach Meyer is assisted by Cliff Stephens, goalie coach Cheryl Gilbert and training help from Monica Plewe. Since they began playing out of town, tournament and competitive play in the fall of 1998 and now into the fall season of 2001, the Pink Panthers have a combined record of 93-31-17. As a U-14 and now U-16 team in the Western Slope State League, they are 22-1-3. They are Fall 2000 U-14, Spring 2001 U-14 and now Fall 2001 U-16 champions. The WSSL was formed in 1994. At that time, the purpose was to create a league for advanced youth players in the central and western counties of Colorado. For advanced teams prior to that time, the alternative was to travel to the Front Range which, for many of those people living along the Western Slope, meant a six to eight hour drive for one game. In addition, the spring season for the Colorado State Youth Soccer Association traditionally begins the second weekend in March, a time when the mountain towns are precluded from playing because of snow pack still on the fields. Beginning in Spring of 1999, the WSSL has operated two leagues: Advanced and Developmental. The Pink Panthers play in the Advanced, a competitive league.
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