After winning their region, the Pinewood Prep soccer teams have momentum this week as they enter the SCISA playoffs.
The Pinewood Prep girls, the defending SCISA 4A girls state champion, swept its region opponents this season. The Panthers defeated Porter-Gaud 2-0 April 30 to finish the regular season with a 19-1-2 record with a 9-0 mark in region games.
“The team is playing some great soccer at the moment,” said Pinewood coach Gail Osborne. “We are excited as we head into the playoffs, and we are ready.”
The Panthers played a strong schedule this season, facing non-SCISA teams such as Fort Dorchester, West Ashley, Lucy Beckham, Cane Bay, AC Flora, Chapin, Lexington and Bishop England. The team’s only loss this season came to Providence Day School of North Carolina by a 5-2 margin March 23. Providence is ranked seventh in the nation by MaxPreps and as the top team for its state. Pinewood is ranked eighth in South Carolina and 51st nationally.
Senior Maggie Rollins leads the team in goals scored (48) and assists (18) to enter the playoffs with a team-high 114 points. Two weeks ago, she scored her 200th goal for the Panthers.
Izzy Pesce has 13 goals and nine assists, Alexa McCardle has nine goals and 19 assists, M.G. Gwozdo has nine goals and 10 assists, Paisleigh Dasinger has eight goals and 10 assists, Avery MacConnell has seven goals and six assists and Sara Clayton has eight goals and four assists.
Goalkeeper Lorianne West has 175 saves this season. Backup keeper Makayla Edwards has seen limited action between the posts but did earn one of the wins in goal. The Pinewood defense has only surrendered 12 goals all season.
Pinewood is scheduled to open the playoffs by hosting Heathwood Hall May 6. The winner of that game will advance to face either Cardinal Newman or Ashley Hall May 8.
Pinewood Boys
The defending SCISA 3A boys state champion, the Pinewood Prep boys, defeated Porter-Gaud 3-2 April 30 to enter the playoffs with an 11-5-2 record and a 5-1 mark in its region. The Panthers lost only one region game this season, falling 3-2 in overtime to First Baptist School March 19. They avenged that loss April 25, handing the Hurricanes a 6-0 loss to capture the region title.
The boys also played a rigid schedule, facing teams such as Cane Bay, Stall, Gaffney, Hanahan, Fort Dorchester and Stratford, as well as SCISA opponents.
Benny Hayward leads the team in goals (13) and assists (17) for a team-high 43 points. Dylen Gauthier has six goals and nine assists this season. Julian Boess has eight goals and four assists. Briggs Gwozdo had nine goals and three assists. Harrison Reagin has seven goals and five assists.
Coleman Fulkerson is the team’s primary goalkeeper. The Panthers have seven shutouts on the season and have outscored opponents 61-24.
Pinewood is scheduled to open the playoffs by hosting Hilton Head Prep May 7. The winner of that game advances to play either Wilson Hall or John Paul II May 9.
