Panthers claim President's Cup

The Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association Panthers 16-and-under team was recently crowned state champion of the Dairy Farmers of Washington President’s Cup, which took place last Saturday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

The Panthers defeated the Federal Way Lightning Bolts 1-0 in the championship game.

The game remained scoreless in the first half, but just five minutes into the second half midfielder Brittany Becker crossed the ball off the left goalpost and forward Sandrine Girard was there to knock in the rebound for the game-winner.

Anchored by goalie Hannah Hoien, who came up with two key saves late in the game, the Panthers’ defensive efforts posted their 11th shutout of the season. The Panthers finished the with a record of 13-1-2.

“I’ve coached for a lot of years in a lot of different sports, and as a coach you set goals and expectations, one of the goals you never set is to go the state championship and win it,” said Panthers head coach Jeff Crockett. “But in my heart, I knew our girls could do it.”

The team, which consists of girls attending high school in Redmond and Kirkland, scored 38 goals this season while allowing only 10 this year. Crockett said that his girls have been challenged by competing in difficult events as they have moved up through the LWYSA ranks, and that experience proved invaluable in the President’s Cup.

“They really dedicated themselves and worked hard, gone to big tournaments, and taken their beatings in the last three years to get to where they are today,” hesaid. “I’m just thrilled to death.”

The following LWYSA teams also won their divisions of the President’s Cup:

• Girls U15: Shooting Stars

• Boys U13: Doom Patrol

• Boys U14: Chaos

• Boys U18: EHS Ambush

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