Panthers repeat as state soccer champs

By Roger Lee

Summerville – Pinewood Prep went up two goals over First Baptist in the SCISA 3A Boys Soccer Championship and then held strong against a late surge by the Hurricanes.

The Panthers earned a 2-1 victory in the state-championship match May 11 at Knights Family Field to capture their second straight state title. However, this wasn’t a season the Panthers just cruised through.

Pinewood graduated some key players from last year’s squad so it entered the 2024 season with some things to figure out. Pinewood lost three of its first eight games of the season and two other games during that span ended in a tie. The eighth game brought a 3-2 loss to First Baptist in overtime.

Eventually the Panthers ironed out the kinks and went on to win their region, going 6-1 in region play with the only region loss being the one to the Hurricanes.

“We implemented a new system, a new way to play,” Pinewood coach Luke Williams said. “We used a three-back last year. We had a player who was just a rock in our back end but he was a senior so he left and that was a hard spot to fill. We changed our formation to a four-back. It was hard but every game they got more comfortable and more confident.”

Pinewood created some scoring opportunities early in the championship game to establish momentum. However, the First Baptist back end fended off those attacks. Hurricanes goal keeper Thomas Sanders made some athletic saves, even deflecting one shot away from the net with a diving, one-handed punch.

Once it warmed up, First Baptist created some scoring opportunities of its own in the first half, but couldn’t get a shot past Pinewood goal keeper Coleman Fulkerson.

The Panthers managed to break the stalemate with 9:24 remaining until the half. Senior captain Benny Hayward gained possession in front of the goal and quickly sent off a line drive that found the net for a 1-0 Pinewood lead that carried into the second half.

Barely two minutes into the second half, Pinewood junior Dylen Gauthier received a pass directly in front of the goal and landed a shot for a 2-0 Panthers’ lead.

First Baptist kept pushing and had some good opportunities to score later in the half, especially after a Pinewood player received a red card. That meant the Panthers had to play the rest of the match a man down.

“Ten men for 30 minutes in a state final is tough,” Williams said. “It’s hard on the legs and on the mind, even the focus. I’m proud of the boys’ work and passion. That’s what got us through the second half.”

A Hurricanes’ player was tripped in the goal box as he was driving to the net with approximately 18 minutes remaining. First Baptist was awarded a penalty kick that freshman Ben Kaplanis drilled into the net for a 2-1 score.

But the Panthers were able to hold off First Baptist the rest of the way to end the season with a 14-5-2 record. First Baptist finishes at 11-6.

Pinewood’s Briggs Gwozdo and Briland Morgan had the assists on the Panthers’ goals.