East Lake loss motivates Plant

East Lake loss motivates Plant

TAMPA - Last season ended for Plant with three corner kicks that led to East Lake goals in the final 20 minutes of the region quarterfinals. With a 2-0 lead at the second-half water break, things looked good for the Panthers, but all that changed when East Lake's Tatiana Perez put in three late goals and the Eagles ended Plant's season, 3-2.

That loss still stings senior sweeper Amy Werdine.

"I think about that game all the time," Werdine said. "It was excruciatingly painful afterwards. It was probably the worst game I've ever been a part of. And the way we lost ... there is no way that is going to happen to us again."

The Panthers now have a rallying cry, one that resonates with the team's seven seniors and 11 juniors.
Panthers coach Stephen McGill believes the loss will help his players find motivation to succeed and remember not to let up.

"The first time this team ever really got to experience the other team celebrating on the field was when East Lake came back," McGill said. "That was the first time these girls got to feel that emotion of watching the other team celebrate." more
 

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