Although the boys soccer team had a somewhat shaky start to the season, it’s beginning to find its footing. On April 18 the Panthers pummeled Eisenhower at home. The Cadets scored first, and the Panthers responded with three goals of their own. Junior Gio Soto, senior Tyler Miller, and sophomore Miguel Viramontes each scored.

“The talk in the locker room [before] really motivated us,” Soto said. “The team doesn’t want to lose again.”

The team then went 0-2 in its league games after a shutout against Quincy on March 26, losing 2-0 to Sunnyside on April 8, and 3-2 to Moses Lake April 11.

“We’ve had some gaps or loss of focus at times for a few minutes and it seems like every time that happens our opponents jump on us,” Coach Dennis Tronson said.

April 15, the Panthers met up with Eastmont. At the half the score was still 0-0 until Soto scored on a free kick. Then the Wildcats tied it up on a penalty kick with eight minutes left. The game went into a double overtime. With no one scoring during the extra periods, the game advanced to a shootout where the Panthers claimed their 2-1 victory, bringing their record to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league play.

Offensive leaders this season include Soto, who has 12 goals so far this season and is looking to break the WHS record for goals in a season which is currently 15.

On the defensive side, Tronson feels that juniors Chris Trussel and Austen Lane have really stepped up. “It’s like [our opponents] avoid the middle of the field because of those two guys,” said Tronson.