The Liberty County Lady Panther soccer team is hoping to do something they didn’t do last season — make it to the playoffs.
The relatively young squad still has a chance of making it to the post-season if they can get a win over South Effingham on Friday.
Despite a loss to Richmond Hill (6-1) last week, it was a tough loss to Groves on Friday that made first-year soccer coach Jarvis MacArthur disappointed in his team’s performance.
“We lost to Groves 2-3 and it was mostly due to not staying in our positions,” he said. “We need our players to stay in their positions so we can finish. We kept the ball on the Groves’ side of the field Friday night but we were unable to score and finish. We had many opportunities and many shots on goal but were unable to score. We need to work on that.”
MacArthur, who used to coach cross-country and track, said the soccer program is still a work in progress and, being that he never coached soccer before, he said he was thankful for the support he receives from other coaches and colleagues.
“It could take up to four years to get the program where it should be,” he said. “The coach of Richmond Hill has been helpful with advice and he gave me some insight on how he grew his program. Elyssa Lemapu’s dad has helped us and given us advise. The program needs to be developed. We only have a few returning players from last year and the other 50 percent are new players, new to the game, never played soccer before. But we are doing better. Last year we scored only 4 goals the whole season. We have about 20 goals this season.”
Lemapu continues to be the top scorer for the Lady Panthers and last Friday
Diana Jimenez scored a goal against Groves. Shaterra Freeman hit a goal but she was called off side so it was taken back.
“Hopefully next year we will get off to a better start and an early start,” the coach said. “We did have some conditioning beforehand during cross country but not a whole lot. And hopefully by next year the younger players will start to buy into our new philosophy and get more wins.”
The Lady Panthers were scheduled to play on the road yesterday against St. Vincent’s. They face South Effingham at home Friday at 5 p.m.
The relatively young squad still has a chance of making it to the post-season if they can get a win over South Effingham on Friday.
Despite a loss to Richmond Hill (6-1) last week, it was a tough loss to Groves on Friday that made first-year soccer coach Jarvis MacArthur disappointed in his team’s performance.
“We lost to Groves 2-3 and it was mostly due to not staying in our positions,” he said. “We need our players to stay in their positions so we can finish. We kept the ball on the Groves’ side of the field Friday night but we were unable to score and finish. We had many opportunities and many shots on goal but were unable to score. We need to work on that.”
MacArthur, who used to coach cross-country and track, said the soccer program is still a work in progress and, being that he never coached soccer before, he said he was thankful for the support he receives from other coaches and colleagues.
“It could take up to four years to get the program where it should be,” he said. “The coach of Richmond Hill has been helpful with advice and he gave me some insight on how he grew his program. Elyssa Lemapu’s dad has helped us and given us advise. The program needs to be developed. We only have a few returning players from last year and the other 50 percent are new players, new to the game, never played soccer before. But we are doing better. Last year we scored only 4 goals the whole season. We have about 20 goals this season.”
Lemapu continues to be the top scorer for the Lady Panthers and last Friday
Diana Jimenez scored a goal against Groves. Shaterra Freeman hit a goal but she was called off side so it was taken back.
“Hopefully next year we will get off to a better start and an early start,” the coach said. “We did have some conditioning beforehand during cross country but not a whole lot. And hopefully by next year the younger players will start to buy into our new philosophy and get more wins.”
The Lady Panthers were scheduled to play on the road yesterday against St. Vincent’s. They face South Effingham at home Friday at 5 p.m.