The Panthers made it to the CCS semifinals before losing a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker to St. Francis on penalty strokes. The Lancers went on to play Los Gatos for the section championship on Nov. 23 and lost a tight 1-0 decision in the finals.

So Potmesil knows that his Panthers could have played Los Gatos close. After all, they stayed with the Lancers right to the bitter end four days earlier.

The Panthers and Lancers played a scoreless first half before Prospect jumped to a 1-0 lead on a goal by sophomore forward Lizzie Innes.

Junior forward Nicole Ng scored for the Lancers later in the second half to tie the game 1-1. After two scoreless overtime periods, Ng knocked in a penalty stroke to lift St. Francis to the thrilling win and into the CCS championship game.

The Panthers, who finished the year 14-6-1, had opened the section playoffs with a 2-0 win over St. Ignatius, then edged Los Altos 1-0.

Goals by senior mid Stephanie Nichols and senior defender Jennifer Iwagoshi had lifted the Panthers to the win over the Wildcats to open the tournament. Senior mids Brooke Madsen and Christie Ohara each had assists in the win.

Unseeded Prospect then went up against No. 4­seeded Los Altos, and the Panthers came through with the upset, thanks to a first-half goal by Iwagoshi.

The two wins earned the Panthers a shot at No. 1 seed St. Francis in the semifinals, but they lost the heartbreaker in overtime.

Still, it was quite a finish for Potmesil's crew, who came within a goal of playing for the Central Coast Section's top award. Members of the talented Prospect squad included seniors Melissa Shouse, Jaime Otaguro, Nichols, Madsen, Ohara, Jenny Crayford, Tiffany Bradley, Niqui Windberg, Iwagoshi and goalkeeper Rachel Gagliasso; juniors Pamela Salter and Nicolette Vallorz; and sophomores Lindsey Warren, Innes and Casie Reiss. Leon Nikas was an assistant coach on the squad.


Warriors fall

Westmont entered the CCS tournament as the No. 6 seed but drew top seed St. Francis in the first round. The Warriors dropped a 6-1 decision despite a goal by senior fullback Shelby Chapman.

The Warriors finished the season with a 10-2-6 record. Members of the squad, coached by Augustina Matsui and his assistant Taka Sugimoto, included seniors Chapman, Jennifer Quinn, Victoria Alexander, Jennifer Chaney, Lisa Field, Janelle Klafter and Anna Sul; juniors Vicki Gorman, Brianne Johnson, Lesley Makishima and Nichol Repucci; sophomores Chelsea Dunton, Megan Higbee, Michelle McLellan, Lindsey Morisch, Lisa Parola, Johanna Publicover, Kristen Scheff and goalkeeper Jessica Gardner; and freshman Linley Takaki.

Prospect controls the ball in the CCS Semifinals.