From STAFF REPORTS

The Americus-Sumter High School (ASHS) soccer team has enjoyed some significant successes so far this season, with the team steadily building enough steam to shut out both Dodge County and Monroe. Following a pair of tough losses to Colquitt County and Worth County, the team currently holds a 3-2 record, having previously logged one win in a match against Bainbridge.
The Panthers traveled to Dodge County for a non-region match on March 1.
ASHS’ first goal was scored by Jonathon Abarca with Fransisco Gonzalez on the assist. The Panthers clung tightly to their lead through the remainder of the opening half.
After the break, the Panthers returned to the pitch, going on to score four more goals, three of which were booted into the back of the net by Abarca with another pair of assists by Gonzalez.
To top it off, Gonzalez dished out another assist to Jose Ovando to cinch the 5-0 victory.
In a press release, Panther head soccer coach, Greg Fowler, told the Times-Recorder, “The defense played very well and did a great job of stopping the ball from reaching our keeper.”
The Panthers returned to the soccer field two days later, on March 3 to battle region 1-AAAA foes, Monroe Tornadoes, gaining another shutout victory.
With the imminent threat of a storm looming on the horizon, the Panthers were able to post an impressive eight goals in the first half of the match to reduce the second period to only 20 minutes, in accordance with the Georgia High School Association’s “Mercy Rule”.
The Panthers tacked on another two goals in the shortened second half to earn a 10-0 win in the road match.
Abarca scored five goals and dished out four assists. Gonzalez had put in two goals. David Ovando and Carlos Virgen each had a goal. Amani Hunter assisted on a goal as well.
In junior varsity (JV) action, the Panthers are 1-2-1, having recently tied one match against the Westover Patriots’ JV squad and logged one win against Crisp County. The JV Panthers most recently on to drop a 3-1 decision against Westover on March 7.
As reported by Fowler, the Panthers’ JV tie against Westover “was an exciting and interesting game. Both teams played hard for most of the game.”
Westover struck first, earning their first goal with only 15 minutes left in the match. The Panthers immediately countered, scoring a goal of their own five minutes later.
“We countered and scored a goal with 10 minutes left in the game,” Fowler stated. “We spent the rest of the time holding off Westover and allowing time to expire.” The game ended in a tie at 1-1.
On March 4, the Panthers’ JV squad traveled to Albany to battle Deerfield-Windsor.
The Americus-Sumter boys struck first on a goal by Bobby Duque in the first half. Deerfield-Windsor scored three in the second to earn the 3-1 comeback victory.
In the JV Panthers’ second contest against Westover, the Patriots struck first in the opening half of the game before David Ovando equalized he gap with a penalty kick. Westover made their move in the final 15 minutes to cinch the 3-1 victory. Following the loss, Fowler stated, “The team played better overall. They were able to control and possess the ball much better than they have in the past. Two of the  Westover goals came on simple mistakes we made, so the outcome wasn’t too disappointing.”
The Panthers’ varsity team faced Dougherty County in Albany on March 8. The results of this contest were not available at press time.
The ASHS boys will return to action on March 11, traveling to Sylvester to face Worth County.