REDDING, Calif. – The regular season for high school soccer is over but one team in Redding showcased dominance all season long and did something pretty special for the second year in a row.
The U-Prep girls’ soccer team capped off their regular season with an 8-nil win over Anderson.
This victory marked the second straight undefeated regular season for the Panthers.
Sophomore, Kylie Walsh shared what she thinks helped them succeed.
“I think our teamwork especially helped,” Walsh said. “We're just really trustworthy of each other and we work together well as a team, which really works out for us.”
Kylie Walsh transitioned from forward to goalkeeper this year and the gamble paid off. The Panthers have given up just two goals this year.
Our defense is incredibly talented,” Senior, Emma Nichols said. “I feel like just covering for the other players around you, making sure that you're making the runs, making sure that you're communicating, and just trusting is huge.”
But while the Panthers are having a great season, they've adopted a common phrase from Head Coach Rich Bourne.
“As I say in 'WADNY', We Ain’t Done Nothing Yet,” Bourne said. “But we've done the first part of what I call the trilogy, we've done the league, and now we go on to the sections, and then pray then we go on to state after that.
“I think our entire team has adapted we ain’t done nothing yet and we ain’t done nothing yet until we win state finals,” Nichols said.
And the panthers made it to the state finals the past two years but Lowell High School from San Francisco stood in the way.
“We lost to them my sophomore year and then lost to them last year in the finals and so I think this is really the year where we're going to beat them hopefully if we play them,” Nichols said.
Walsh said she thinks the team is ready and capable to do it.
“I think we're ready this year especially and just we know what we have to do and we're going to get there,” Walsh said.
Part two of Coach Bourne's trilogy starts Thursday, Feb. 20, in the second round. The Panthers have the top seed and a first-round bye and will host the winner of Yreka against La Plumas.