After a strong 3-0 start to the season, the Park Hill South Panthers’ soccer team dropped its first match with a 3-1 loss at home to Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
The Panthers dominated ball possession for the first 34 minutes of the match and had a few great chances to score but the defense broke down and with 5:49 left on the clock in the first half the Blue Jays put home a goal to take a 1-0 lead.
South senior Benny Rouse was credited with the only goal in a loss to Liberty last week. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
A little more than two minutes later, the Jays struck again, and the Panthers were staring at a 2-0 deficit at halftime despite playing the better half. The Panthers had a few chances to score, including two shots on goal by senior forward Maddox Redman, one of which hit off the post in the 31st minute.
Maddox Redman / DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South started the second half like the first half with ball control and pressure, which led to chances, including a shot by junior forward Nate Bartram that went just over the crossbar, and a few minutes later, senior forward Benny Rouse just missed a shot at the goal.
South’s Ty Zimmerman unloads a shot on goal that was deflected in by a teammate for the Panther’s only goal versus Liberty. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Rouse would get another chance a few minutes later in the 49th minute when teammate junior Ty Zimmerman launched a shot towards the goal, and Rouse was there to deflect the shot in to cut the deficit in half.
Will Browne / DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Panthers had more chances to even the score but could not capitalize. In the 63rd minute, Bartram just missed wide with a header, and the Panthers forced five corner kicks in the final 15 minutes, resulting in no shots on goal.
Jake Farmer goes up high to get the header on a corner kick. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
In the 73rd minute, the Jays got an insurance goal similar to their first two goals. South had controlled the ball for most of the half but a slight breakdown left an opening and what few chances Liberty had they took advantage of. It was Liberty’s first win of the season.
South quickly bounced back after the loss, hosting Kansas school Blue Valley North at home on Thursday, Sept. 19. That match ended with a 2-0 Panthers win.
Nick Parra / DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Panthers have also racked up road wins versus Staley on Sept. 3, 1-0 in a match that went to overtime, and a 2-0 win versus Lee’s Summit on Sept. 10. In the first edition of the Battle of the Hills the Panthers got a 2-1 overtime win over the Trojans on Sept. 12. The rematch versus Park Hill will be on Oct. 8.
Asher Huffman / DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Panthers’ next match will be Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Lee’s Summit West before they head across the state line to Blue Valley Southwest on Thursday. This Saturday the Panthers will be on the road versus Rockhurst in a matchup of two of the metro’s top teams.