South Stanly soccer hosts home playoff game

Published 6:13 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The storybook season for the South Stanly women’s soccer team ended on Tuesday night.

The Bulls, hosting the team’s first ever home playoff game in the sport in school history as the No.11 seed in the Western Region, fell to the Alleghany Trojans, 1-0.

Daisy Panuco scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute with a header off of a corner kick for the No. 22 seeded Trojans (6-13).

“Both teams played a very physical game and were equally matched,” South head coach Michael Curlee said.

“Somebody’s got to win and somebody’s got to lose. It could have gone either way.”

The loss wraps up the most successful season for a South Stanly women’s soccer team finishing 13-5 overall and placing second in the Yadkin Valley Conference standings.

“We look at each other as family. We bond and tend to look after one another; that’s what made the difference,” Curlee said.

South graduates nine seniors this year: Star Lee, Josie Hinson, Hannah Crump, Hailey Aldridge, Ashley Storm, Emely Santos, Caselyn Little, Stephanie Henriquez and Whitley Lowe.

Curlee said the team moving forward wants to continue to show improvement and not be an easy win for the opposition.

“Years ago, when you came to South Stanly to play soccer, you thought it was an easy win. We want to see it keep moving up. When someone comes to South Stanly, they will expect a fight on their hands.”

Sports Editor Charles Curcio can be reached by email at charles.curcio @stanlynewspress.com, 704-983-1361 or via Twitter (@charles_curcio).

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

email author More by Charles