4 days Ago
Pinewood Prep has become a mainstay in the SCISA Girls Soccer Finals but the Panthers have a tougher path there this season. “We are relatively young, but I’m confident we can still make the state final and that is our goal,” said Pinewood coach Gail Osborne. “We’ve had four ACL tears and those players were all starters so we are just trying to keep grinding things out.
Matches where normally we would mercy rule a team may be full matches this year. We aren’t that team right now and we have to remember that’s ok. The important thing is we are having a consistent team effort with contributions from everyone.
” Players know their competition won’t be concerned with the Panthers’ injuries and still give them their best shot considering Pinewood has won a state title in each of the last four years. Adding to the challenge is last Spring the Panthers graduated their leading scorer and starting goal keeper. “We are definitely not as deep as we used to be but what we do have is people showing up and working hard every day,” Osborne said.
“They are learning and developing and this is a good group.” Pinewood is led by its two senior captains MG Gwozdo and Kailen Dasinger. Gwozdo, who is committed to the College of Charleston, leads the team in assists with 11 on the season and has scored 5 goals.
Dasinger, who is committed to Methodist University, anchors the defense. Junior Izzy Pesce pushes the ball up field for the Panthers March 27 during their match at Northwood Academy. Also pictured in Northwood’s Lacy Starbuck.
“They are my leaders and I need them to mentor our young women and stay positive,” Osborne said. “We’ve also been leaning on juniors Izzy Pesce and Elizabeth Willis and sophomore Paisleigh Dasinger has been outstanding in our attack.” Paisleigh Dasinger leads the team in scoring with 18 goals on the season and 3 assists.
Pesce has 8 goals and 5 assists. Starting keeper Hannah Birdsong is the team’s only other senior. Freshman Krista Dandridge also has experience in goal, but is playing mostly in the field during her first year with the varsity team due to injuries.
Other players who returned to the team with varsity experience include Madison Ramsey, Makayla Edwards, Alaina Garrett and Amber Paige Botha. New to the varsity squad are Mason Wright, Brooklyn Kennedy, Pauline Tonner, Emma Evans, Cameron Savini, Ady Winter, Bess Shuler and Avery MacConnell. Savini, a freshman, already has 7 goals and 4 assists this season.
Others who have landed shoots in the net for the team include Kailen Dasinger, Krista Dandridge, Wright, Ramsey and Garrett. Michelle Ying and Ken Felder are Osborne’s assistant coaches. Pinewood entered this week with a 7-3-1 record.
The Panthers are outscoring their opponents 40-13. The losses came to West Ashley, Porter-Gaud and Academic Magnet. The Panthers have five shutouts on the season.
The team surrendered five goals to West Ashley during a tournament Feb. 22 but has held all its other opponents to three goals or less. “We are not as prolific as we were with Maggie Rollins, but we are making it work,” Osborne said.
“It’s good that people are stepping up. Our win over Phillip Simmons is probably our best win. Also, the early-season victory over May River is a solid win.
They were physical and we were on their field.” Pinewood defeated Northwood Academy 8-1 March 27 to improve to 4-1 in their region. The Panthers host Waccamaw at 6:30 p.
m. Wednesday, April 2 and host Palmetto Christian Academy at 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 3..
