The Paul VI Panthers girl’s soccer team, coached by veteran Meg Ashley, is in somewhat of a rebuilding mode during the 2003 soccer season. PVI improved to 6-6-2 overall on the season with a 1-0 win versus WCAC rival Holy Cross Oct. 20 in Fairfax.

There were less than 80 fans in the stands, but after 80 regulation minutes of intense action the "Black and Gold" evened their record at .500 on the season.

Senior midfielder Lindsay Curtin scored the lone and decisive goal off a "direct kick" with 16 minutes remaining in the first half.

"I was tripped by the Holy Cross defender. I was awarded a direct kick. I booted it in right footed from about 30 yards out," said Curtin, PVI's season leading scorer along with Casey Bridges.

Curtin's kick was a line drive blast into the top of the net that beat the Tartan (Holy Cross) goalkeeper from the keeper’s right to the keepers left.

PVI controlled approximately 60 percent of the games action, on a cool autumn evening.

"That one shot pretty much decided the contest," said Holy Cross Coach Larry Kilmer. "hey scored and we didn't."

Holy Cross unloaded two extremely hard shots in the games final 18 minutes, but one deflected off of the post and the other was saved by Panther goalkeeper Stephanie Marcellin.

The Panthers out shot the visitors from Montgomery County 20-14, including 14-8 in "shots on goal" of various degrees of intensity. Standout PVI senior goalkeeper Marcellin recorded six saves, including two at point-blank range.

During the current campaign, PVI has not only defeated Holy Cross, but has also defeated Catholic (Baltimore) (2-0), McNamara (5-0), St. Mary’s Ryken (2-0), Ireton (2-1) and Seton (3-1). The "Black and Gold" has tied both Bullis, Md. (0-0) and St. John’s(0-0).

In 2003, both Curtin and freshman striker Casey Bridges have recorded five goals each to pace the PVI scoring parade.

Sophomore midfielder Allie Armellino (three goals), sophomore midfielder Kelly Semko, sophomore striker Jackie Mohay and freshman striker Linsey Sledge (two goals each), and junior midfielder Kelley Hardgrove (one goal) - have also contributed to the Panthers combined 20 goals.

Key defensive players this season include junior "sweeper" Laura Oliver, junior "stopper" Meghan Oliver, senior defender Alina Borkowski and sophomore defender Kelly Grant.

"These four girls, along with Stephanie Marcellin, are definitely the strength of our team this season" said 15th year head coach Meg Ashley. "We all trust one another. We know what each other is going to do on the field" said Marcellin.

Marcellin and Lindsay Curtin are the PVI captains.

Other Lady Panthers seeing considerable action this season include senior Stephanie Perih, juniors: Kathleen Berger and Maggie Bridges (currently injured), sophomore Marianne Cinalli and freshmen: Caroline Lamberti (currently injured), Missy Lawrence, Kelly Madigan, Kristen Palmisano and Nicole Westphal.

"It's a great group of girls. They've been learning as the season has progressed and the chemistry is good" said Ashley.

PVI has lost in the WCAC tournament semi-finals during the past few years, but with 17 of 21 players returning for next season’s campaign Ashley may have a serious contender for the league title.

"We had some inconsistency early in the season, but we've been playing together as of late. Early in the season we weren't getting a whole lot of shots. Lately, we've been getting some quality shots which has led to more goals being scored. Hopefully the lessons that we have learned through the course of the season will pay off when we get to the WCAC tournament," said Ashley.

The WCAC quarterfinals will commence Nov. 4 (weather permitting) in both boys and girls soccer. The O'Connell girls are the defending WCAC champions and are currently ranked number one in the entire metro area by the Washington Post. All six diocesan teams should be very competitive come tournament time.