The Paschal Lady Panthers soccer team is on the hunt for a district championship, battling neck and neck with the Arlington Heights Hornets. Both teams have had an incredible season, holding the same record for a while at 5-0-1, but the Hornets took first place earlier in the season after an intense penalty kick victory over the Panthers.

That game was exciting, with Heights scoring early in the second half to take a 1-0 lead. But Paschal came out strong, fighting back to tie the game and send it into penalty kicks. Unfortunately, Arlington Heights came out on top, giving them a one-point advantage in the standings.

But the Panthers weren’t going down without a fight. On Friday night, they got their revenge, beating Heights in another intense matchup and reclaiming their first place spot at the top of the district. Now, with only three games left in the season, Paschal controls its own destiny and if they win out, they will be district champions.

The journey hasn’t been easy. With extreme weather conditions forcing the team to train indoors on gym floors, the Panthers have had to adapt. But through it all, they’ve stayed focused and determined. “Our girls have worked so hard this season,” said Coach Alyson Stalcup. “We’ve faced challenges with the weather and injuries, but the team has stayed committed. We just need to finish strong.”

Varsity isn’t the only squad making waves; JV1 is currently undefeated, and JV2 has only tied one game all season. Coach Stalcup hopes all three teams can finish first in their divisions.

Team captain Kate Rich believes the key to success is staying united. “We’ve put in so much effort to get to this point,” she said. “If we continue playing as a team and pushing each other, I know we can win district. I love this team because we work hard but still have so much fun together!”

With just three games left, the pressure is on. But if the Lady Panthers keep up their momentum, there’s a district title waiting for them at the finish line.