Knee Deep In Season

Hey Panther fans,

Well, the first game of play in our new conference (the SAA) happened this past Saturday.  For the third year in a row, we made the trip to Memphis to take on the Lynx of Rhodes.  If you ever wanted to watch an exciting soccer game, this match-up would definitely give you all you could want...AND THEN SOME!

We knew this game would be a dog-fight, as the past has a history of repeating itself.  However, we also should have known that this weekend would be a little adventurous if our trip to Chick-Fil-A in Tupelo was any indicator.  If there is one thing that can be said about soccer girls...it's that they love to eat.  It doesn't really matter what it is, nor does the time of day play any role in their decision to eat....it just happens, all the time.  Now, throw ice cream in the mix and the girls will do just about anything to get some.  Oh, did I mention it was free?  Yep. It happened.  The team leader of the store approached some of our players and said that if we would like free ice cream we would have to perform a skit of some sort.  After mulling over what song or dance we should do, Jamie Sullivan, via Melissa Sweeney, spoke up and suggested we do "the rollercoaster."   So. We did.

Needless to say, we enjoyed the fruits  ice cream of our labor and then continued on our merry way to Memphis.

The game was beyond eventful.  The ref was handing out cards (both of the yellow and red variety) like they were party favors.  After a few tough losses, it was great to see our girls come together and push forward through much adversity and beat a very good Rhodes squad.  

We continue our SAA quest this weekend as we head back to Sewanee, TN for the second time this year and then make the trek to Danville, KY for our match against Centre.  Both are huge rivals for our program, and extremely talented teams.  We're looking forward to a solid week of training.  

**Special thanks to the Dreyfus and McDonald families this weekend for the fabulous spread after our game!!! THE STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES WERE PHENOMENAL!*****

SEE EVERYONE ON THE PITCH! 

yeah, panthers! 

Settling In

Hey, sports fans!

Well, the hectic whirlwind that was known as last week is finally over and us BSC Panthers are returning to a state of normalcy!

After coming back from our trip to Raleigh, we had a quick turn-around and a Wednesday game against a previously unbeaten Piedmont.  Scoring was the name of the game (at least in the second half!)  We ended up winning that game 5-2.  Some great things about it were:

-Devin McDonald scoring her first career goals! (She had a heck of a game)
-Avery Newcomb's celebration that was of complete and utter SHOCK after she scored
-Sammy Manzo not quite knowing what to do on a throw in and then screaming out Brazil when that meant NOTHING to our team!

We then had a game on Sunday against Agnes Scot and faired well with a 4-0 win!

Now that the girls have settled in and finished Rush for their sororities, and are now starting study hall and everything like that....we get to focus on our daily activities.

We have our game against rival Emory this week and are very much looking forward to that trip to Atlanta!

Come out and support us!

Devin McDonald's goal!

Kelly Craft's goal!

Sarah Lombardi challenging the keeper!

And Away We Go!

Hello, Friends!

So we are finally in the full swing of things here on the Hilltop.  Classes have begun, the first weekend of games has been played, and our first road trip has been completed.  The trip of the season is always a fun experience.  It is a great indicator of many different aspects of how the season might be.

It tells you what kind of people you have on the team....are they grumpy or seriously chipper in the morning?  Do they enjoy bus rides and getting to partake in all of the banter that happens as miles upon miles are traveled?  Are they prepared...aka...did they bring all necessary equipment i.e shinguards and certain other important clothing items?  How well can they play against two teams in a weekend that might be vastly different from each other?

A few of these questions were answered this past weekend on our trip to Sewanee.  We definitely discovered that our team depth, and overall ability are going to be vital in our success this year.  We had great contributions on the field from everyone who played...a great thing to see was how well all of our freshman easily adapted to the college game.  They all had a tremendous showing and were some key reasons for our 1-0-1 record against Mississippi College and Methodist University.

This week shall be a quick turn-around.  Two days of training and then we are off to play in another tournament at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.  This should be an even greater opportunity for our team in this young season.  Meredith, Emory, Johns Hopkins and our Panthers round out the field; a high-quality tournament, to say the least.

We look forward to seeing more familiar smiling faces.  The parental and friend support we had in Sewanee was simply remarkable.  It feels so great for everyone to look up in the stands and have people standing up and cheering for great goals, or arguing with you after a bad call by the referee.  I know it goes without saying, but thank you so much for your support.

Next week look for videos of our trip from our players' perspectives!

YEAH, PANTHERS!

Members of the team as we leave campus to Tennessee

Team at Sewanee's field after our 2OT 1-1 tie to Mississippi College

Freshman Jessie Sperry enjoys mutated muffins. 

2012 Season is UNDERWAY!

Greetings, Panther fans!  

Another exciting season is upon us.  We welcomed 9 new freshman into our program on Friday.  Already in our short preseason, we've asked our players to really focus on the team...to be comfortable with each other, while being confident in everything they do individually so we can be a force collectively.    

We have done a series of team activities...a campus-wide scavenger hunt, a team-building improv session, a photo shoot made for the most serious of models, and as a team we attended church together at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham's service... theLOFT.  

With every hour we've together, we've gotten to know each other a little better. It has definitely has been a few short days filled with lots of laughter.  

In the improv session, the girls were asked to work outside of their comfort zone...to do something that most people hate: public speaking.  I asked them to own their moment, to completely immerse themselves in what was being asked of them, to use their imagination, and to help their teammate succeed.  By fully committing themselves to the task at hand, they would help their teammate by keeping the little skit going.  

I was blown away.  Not only did they do what I asked of them, but they were absolutely hilarious in what they came up with.  

If you go to our team youtube page: PANTHER YOUTUBE you can scroll through and find the video that your daughter did!  The groups of three had to act out a scene not by using words, but through counting to 50.  The pairs did straight improvisation.  

I hope you enjoy their comedic talents! 

We get to FINALLY get the balls out tomorrow and see what the squad, 27 deep, can do.  

Thanks for following us! 

YEAH, PANTHERS! 

twitter: @BSCWSoccer

Alumni Back on the Hilltop

Saturday, April 28th marked this year's Alumni game festivities.

23 former Panthers came back to spend a few hours on campus, participating in a 7-v-7 tournament that featured players from the NAIA, Division 1 and Division III levels.  The "GOLD" team had a great showing in the tournament....due to an onslaught of goals, and some great defensive plays made by the "unofficial MVP" of the day, Tally Ewing.

Thanks for all of those who participated, and the friends and family that attended as well to make it a special day for everyone.

YEAH, PANTHERS!

Ride the Rollercoaster!

After our 2-0 win against Millsaps Friday night....our team stayed around to watch the men's team play.  Tied 0-0 at the time, the players felt there needed to be an added excitement in the air and started doing cheers...and went for a little ride....

A MILESTONE!

100 points.

Wilt Chamberlin accomplished this feat in one game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.

Scoring 100 points in a game in basketball is an accomplishment that no one else has mirrored even today, but to score 100 points in a soccer career is a task that many cannot even dream of accomplishing.

Well....it's time for Senior Alicia Plotky to wake up, because for her, that dream has now become a reality.

On Thursday, September 22, 2011 against Huntingdon College, Plotky went on a tear and found the back of the net 3 times.  These three goals, and six points (2 points for a goal, 1 for an assist) propelled her to the top of the record books in points, surpassing current record holder in goals Jennifer Walker, and Hall of Fame member Diane Bassett, who both shared the top spot with 99 points.

What makes this accomplishment even more impressive are the conditions in which it occurred.  Plotky came to the Hilltop, like her fellow senior classmates, knowing that regardless of team record they could not participate in any post-season event.  Plotky also obtained this record with 9 games to go in the current 2011 season.  Her uncanny ability to find holes in the opposition's defense, and her composure on the ball to place it securely in the back of the net on numerous occasions is remarkable.

This Friday night (Sept. 30) we will be honoring Alicia before our first SCAC conference game against the University of Dallas.  Come out and support Alicia and thank her for her prowess on the field!!

GO PANTHERS!