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Serenity Grim’s quick strike helps Panthers edge Mustangs in girls soccer

Serenity Grim wasted no time giving Palo Verde's girls soccer team an advantage on Thursday. And coach Frank Messina said that was exactly what the team needed to play its best.

Grim scored 30 seconds into the match, and the Panthers went on to beat host Shadow Ridge, 2-1.

“It was really important for us,” Messina said. “We are not a team that likes to come from behind, so going up first definitely helped us.

“It’s always a great game between Palo and Shadow Ridge. They’re always close, usually one goal. I was expecting a tough-fought game.”

Just after the referee blew the whistle to start, Grim wound up with the ball, drove past Mustang defenders, and then netted her team-leading 19th goal of the season.

The senior’s goal jump-started the Panthers (11-1-1, 3-1 Northwest League).

“I didn’t think it would be that quick,” Messina said. “Our girls played really aggressive, moved the ball around, and had good communication passing.”

For the first fifteen minutes of the match, Palo Verde dominated possession and took several shots before Shadow Ridge even threatened on the attack.

The Mustangs (6-5-1, 3-1) got settled and evened the match on a goal from Lindsay Irwin near the midpoint of the first half.

Gabby Gonzales assisted on the goal.

It only took four minutes into the second half for Palo Verde’s Jadyn Nogues to respond. She kicked a missile just outside of the box that went over the hands of Shadow Ridge goalkeeper Dallas Gunny.

It was all Palo Verde could get past Gunny, who had seven saves. Near the end of the match, Gunny saved a one-on-one breakaway, then quickly got to her feet to stop the shot on the rebound.

“She’s a stud,” Messina said.

Palo Verde is in second place in the Northwest League at 3-1, and their coach remained optimistic going forward.

“We’re as good, if not better than last year,” Messina said. “I have full and utmost confidence in them going into the playoffs and possibly reaching the end if they can pull it together and play like I’ve seen them play to the best of their ability.”

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