Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  One could say the Nederland High School girls’ soccer team is struggling, but that wouldn’t be correct. The Panther booters have yet to win a game, but they improve with every match, learning who is best at what position and developing a team unity.

The week of April 10, 2017, the girls played on their home field in Nederland for the first time this season, hosting Denver Christian. It was an almost balmy afternoon and the green turf was as green as mid-summer.

Goalkeeper Linnaea Thibedeau was out of the cage with a broken thumb. In the first half, Karen Sorokach took her place and it was soon evident that Ned’s defense suffered without her. The halftime score was 0-8.

Brieanna Sineni donned the goalkeeper’s shirt and Sorokach took midfield and the Panthers held DC to two points in the second half, avoiding a mercy ruling. Sineni, her first time as goalkeeper, did a good job of protecting the goal and the Ned defensive, led by Sorokach, kept DC from ganging up on the goalie.