By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Several members of the Stevens Point Area Senior High girls soccer team spent their younger days watching Panther teams advance to state.
But now, after some even worked the sidelines as ballgirls for the 1995 state team, the Panthers will be playing in the WIAA state tournament themselves.
SPASH (12-6-1) opened action Thursday against Homestead (3-10-2) at 5 p.m., at Mansfield Stadium in Madison.
"I think we need to come out right away. We just have to want to jump out and take control. We're going to have to come out and fight for every ball," SPASH coach Sharon Peterson said.
If the Panthers advance to the semifinal Friday, they will take on either Hudson (12-5-3) or Arrowhead (8-3-2) at 7 p.m., at Breese Stevens Field. Madison West (18-1-3), Mukwonago (10-7), Fond du Lac (12-5-1) and Waukesha West (11-5-3) are in the other half of the bracket.
The state championship game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m., at Breese Stevens Field.
Peterson said the Panthers need to be aggressive. "The midfielders need to keep talking and the forwards need to stay close to the mids. We need to stay together as a unit.
"The last couple of games, we've been able to do that more. It's helped us out defensively," she said.
In those last two contests, sectional wins over Green Bay Preble and Rhinelander, the Panthers allowed only one goal.
"The defense has really stepped up," Peterson said. "They've become part of our offensive attack and that helps too."
On offense, the Panthers broke out of their late-season scoring slump. SPASH scored seven goals in its last two games.
"We've been working a lot more on the runs that we make, one-to-two passes, the communication," Peterson said. "It's just been a progression."
After a disappointing season a year ago, SPASH's only losing season in the 90s, Peterson said the Panthers were determined to take a step forward.
"They came motivated. That was their goal, to try to do better than last year," she said.
"If you would've said we'd make it to state at the beginning of the year, I would've been a little surprised. It's very nice where we are, but if you've watched the last few games, it wouldn't be a surprise. These girls have the talent to be where they are."
SPASH is expected to get one of its talents back this weekend. First-team All-Wisconsin Valley Conference midfielder Abbey Peterson had an emergency appendectomy early last week and practiced Monday with the team.
"She's doing really well," coach Peterson, who is Abbey's mother, said. "She practiced hard (Monday). She's concerned about the conditioning that she lost."
The Panthers adjusted without Abbey last weekend, which coach Peterson says is a reason SPASH is a great team.
"They've had to deal with ups and downs and coming from behind. They rebounded from the end of the regular season. Every game they work a little harder," she said.