NEDERLAND - The Nederland Middle-Senior High School girls’ soccer team, our fierce and determined Panthers, battled gusty winds and a tough opponent last week as they faced off against Campion Academy of Loveland. 

The match ended in a 0–0 tie, but the energy on the field was electric from start to finish.

“There was a lot of hustle and many saves on both sides; the teams were equally matched,” said player #10, Evelyn Leary. That hustle was evident in every play, with both sides refusing to give an inch.

Early in the game, player #22, Laila Waldron, went down after a hard collision. In a touching show of sportsmanship, all players took a knee while she was helped off the field, creating space for the athletic trainer and showing the kind of respect that defines high school athletics at its best.

Throughout the game, Panther players gave it their all. Eva Wrobel, #5, could be seen charging after the ball with relentless energy. Naima Bullings, #4, leapt confidently into the air to block passes, and #10, Evelyn Leary, used her head, literally, to redirect the ball in tight moments. The wind added its own flair, making clean passes and long shots even more of a challenge.

The Panthers are off to a strong start this season, with a current record of 2–1–1. Their first win was a cold, snowy 2–1 victory over Clear Creek, followed by a 7–1 triumph in their second match. Despite a loss in the third game, the team played with heart and teamwork. 

The fourth game, against Campion, showed just how far they’ve come, holding their own in a tight match where both teams fought hard.

Coach Luis Gonzalez, who also teaches Spanish at the school, has been a steady source of positivity and encouragement. After the match, he praised the players for their effort, teamwork, and growth, reminding them to keep believing in themselves. 

He also thanked Panther families for their unwavering support, calling them “player number 12,” and noting that with them, anything is possible.

Although the team gets a break next week during spring break, Gonzalez encouraged the players to keep up their conditioning and ball work on their own, with three big games scheduled the week after.

The Panthers return to their home turf on Monday, March 31, at 4 p.m. to face Lake County. Come out, bundle up, and cheer on these hardworking student-athletes. In Nederland, as Coach Gonzalez often says, anything is possible—and every step is a new victory.