The 2024 season of Lady Panther soccer came to an end Monday night as North Oconee defeated Starr’s Mill, 2-1.

“I think there was a little pressure because of the past two games,” senior captain Riley Munoz said. “I think at the end the pressure got to us, and it caused the end of our season.”

Both teams played an evenly matched first half with neither team scoring.

Sophomore Kendra Ivaska scored and put the Lady Panthers in the lead at the beginning of the second half. North Oconee scored shortly after to tie the game, 1-1.

“We could’ve played a little differently, been a little more composed,” head coach John Bowen said. “Overall, everybody worked hard so you can’t complain. Sometimes the other team just scores more than you.”

It was North Oconee who managed to break the tie late in the game and advance to the state semifinals.

“The team was really motivated,” Munoz said. “We wanted to win state, but it ended too early.”

The 2-1 loss means the end of the season for a Lady Panther soccer team that did not allow a single goal in region play and shut out 13 different opponents on the way to finishing the season 16-3-1. 

For three Starr’s Mill players, the season is not entirely over just yet. Senior Mia Hargrove, sophomore Kendra Ivaska, and junior Kali McQuade will play in the Divarsity All-Star Game on May 18 at Sprayberry High School.