PUGWASH - The Pugwash Panthers won their second provincial soccer gold medal in three years with a 3-1 win over Ecole du Sommet of Halifax in Pugwash on Nov. 5.
The home team got off to a strong start, controlling the ball well and playing a physical game with their speedy but smaller opponents. The game plan succeeded early, as Cody McKellar opened the scoring with a blistering shot past the Halifax goalkeeper. Jeff Blaikie and Josh Borgal also scored for the Panthers.
The key to victory was sticking to the style of play that got them there, according to coach Chris Tower.
"We play a control game," he said. "So the key was sticking to that game plan, and the guys played harder than they've ever played before. You could tell there were 12 Grade 12 guys playing their last game of soccer."
The team will lose those 12 players to graduation next year, but the coach said they have a strong group of young players coming up from Grade Nine.
(For the full story, see the Nov. 10 issue of The Citizen-Record)
