The Panthers journeyed to Newnan Friday night for their third game in five days and came home with a 1-0 overtime win against the Cougars. The match was a very even midfield battle for most of the evening with neither team able to carve out too many clear-cut chances as defense reigned.

The first half was relatively uneventful with Newnan holding a bit better of the play and a more consistent presence in the Panther end. However, it was Starr’s Mill who hit the crossbar as junior Makira Walton fired home from distance with senior Sky Dedrick’s follow up header also hitting the bar.

Senior keeper Spencer Dawson wasn’t called on much but recorded the team’s third shutout in four games making two saves in the first half, while cutting out numerous through balls and helping the team hold a possession advantage. The game entered the half even at zero.

In the second half, the Panthers asserted themselves a bit more with a territorial advantage to match their possession. Freshman Quin Nowicki got on the ball more with space, and lanes opened up as the team gradually began to pull apart the Cougar backline.

Senior Ansley Peurifoy hit a 20-yard free kick hard and low which Quin got a touch, sending the ball into the bottom left corner before the keeper’s quick-foot save kept the game even. Senior Katelyn LaRusso sprung Peurifoy again with a line splitting through ball, but once again keeper came up with a big save diving to her left to prevent the far post shot from hitting the net.

Junior Sara Biddle, senior Ashton Nowicki, sophomore Rachel Davison, and freshman Chloe Spradlin functioned as a well oiled machine, denying Newnan any clear looks at goal despite facing eight second-half corner kicks.

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Sophomores Alivia Sapienza, Nicki Jackson, and Katelyn O’Shields each came in with big minutes as the Panthers needed fresh legs to see out the half in the second of back-to-back games. The game ended 0-0 as overtime loomed for both teams.

The first overtime was a quick reflection of the match with Newnan having possession of the ball but unable to turn their pressure into a clear chance. Starr’s Mill weathered the storm and took hold of the game as the five minutes ran down.

Applying pressure of their own in the Cougar box, Quin had an attempted shot headed clear before sophomore Meritt Parker fired a one touch volley over the keeper from just inside the box and into the far left top corner. Starr’s Mill took a 1-0 lead with 78 seconds left in the first overtime period.

The goal energized the Panthers, who moved forward with a calm confidence to see out the first period. In the second period it was all Panthers as Starr’s Mill drove deep into the final third and simply kept the ball. Any Cougar clearances were blunted before reaching the Panther defensive half and Starr’s Mill closed the game out expertly for the 1-0 win.

Starr’s Mill evens their record at 4-4-0 on the season and 1-0-0 in region play. Rain cancelled both varsity matches scheduled for March 7 against Peachtree Ridge.  Those games will not be rescheduled.  

The team stays home on March 10 to play against Columbus in the opener of a varsity doubleheader at 5:55 p.m.

Edited by staff writer Jenna Sanders