In April, Pell City’s Jeff Samoranski discussed the necessary steps in building a soccer program.I believe you just can’t pick up a ball and start playing,” he said. “Not only is the fitness involved with it, but there’s a large technical aspect to be able to play.
“It’s like a pyramid - you have to have a strong base to get quality players at the top.”
If recent events are any indication, fans of the Lady Panther varsity have much to look forward to.
This past weekend, the Pell City Panther U-12 Girls soccer team competed in the Alabama Sports Festival held at several venues across Birmingham. The Alabama Sports Festival, in its 26th year, is an Olympic-style event that showcases teams from across the state in many different individual and team sports.
And the Panthers did more than just compete, bringing home the gold medal.
“It’s pretty big,” Samoranski said Friday. “These girls are rising seventh-graders, so in two years they’ll be competing in high school.
“By playing a higher level of competition, they’re already more advanced than the teams before them. Any time we can compete in a tournament like this, it benefits us.”
The Panthers won their first game against the Raiders Football club 2-0, with both goals coming from Kodi Cooper. Jordan Urick assisted on the second goal.
In their second game, the Panthers took down the Birmingham Saints, 3-1. Cooper (assisted by Taylor Green), Repsey Munoz (Jordan Urick assist), and Jordan Urick goal (assisted by Taylor Green) all scored goals.
In related soccer news, three other Pell City soccer players brought home soccer gold from the Alabama Sports Festival. Kiki Berryhill, Stephanie Brown, and Kara Samoranski, all play soccer for the Briarwood Soccer Club Lady Ambassadors U-18 Girls team, also coached by Jeff Samoranski.
The Briarwood Soccer Team defeated its opponents 3-1, 4-0, and 3-1 to bring home their gold medals for 1st place in the U-19 Girls Division. Kara was the point leader with 7-points for her team.
