Palo Verde puts its ‘A’ game on display in playoff romp

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 | 9:46 a.m.

Having already climbed its personal mountain in these playoffs, the Palo Verde girls' soccer team is simply cruising over speed bumps now.

The Panthers played a complete offensive and defensive game in dominating Sunrise Region champion Coronado, 4-0, Tuesday at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in the semifinals of the 4A Southern State Tournament. It all looked easy for the Panthers (SS-1), who used goals from four different players to continue their dream run through the postseason.

Thursday's state championship game will be a Sunset Region affair, as Bonanza (SS-2) eliminated Silverado (SR-1) in a shootout to claim the other berth. The game went scoreless into the tiebreaker, which the Bengals won, 3-2.

The winner of Thursday's game is technically the Southern champion in girls' soccer. Schools in the North play girls' soccer in the fall to avoid the harsh winter weather.

Palo Verde entered the playoffs as the third seed from the Northwest Division behind defending state champion Centennial and Cimarron-Memorial. The Panthers eliminated Centennial, its nemesis who won both earlier meetings between the teams this year, last week in the region tournament.

In two games since then -- including a 4-1 win against Bonanza in the Sunset championship -- Palo Verde has scored eight goals and twice dominated quality opponents.

"I think they've gotten a confidence boost -- that's a good sports thing to say," Panthers coach Marc Hechter said. "But what they've really gotten is heart."

The Panthers never allowed Coronado into the game, thanks to first-half goals by Brittany Day and Kayla Lambert. Palo Verde did not relent in the second half, as speedy forwards Marissa Lucero and Lambert pressured Coronado's backfield.

Lucero cashed in midway through the half, with a nifty half-volley redirection into the upper corner for a 3-0 advantage. Jacque Watt closed the scoring late in the game on a clean breakaway, firing a deflected line drive into the net.

Palo Verde's steady defense kept the Cougars from mounting more than a handful of offensive charges and Panthers goalkeeper Ashley Johannes faced few challenges in posting a shutout.

"We showed a lot of balance," Hechter said.

Balance is something the Panthers have sought since last season, when most of the nucleus of this year's state finalist came agonizingly close to beating the upper tier teams in town. Given a year to grow up and gain experience, Hechter's group is over all but one hump.

"Sometimes, passion carries you a long way," Hechter said.

Hechter said his team had to work through some moments of inflated passion -- namely internal turmoil -- early in the season. Those trials, however, brought the Panthers closer together and left a wonderful impression on a coach who has seen quite a few soccer teams.

"I can't thank them enough for bringing me along for the ride," Hechter said.