Santiago Garcia’s goal was the difference, as the Nease Panthers boys soccer team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 1-0 win on the road against the Yulee Hornets Dec. 1.
It was the first goal of the season for the senior midfielder, and it could not have come at a better time, as the Panthers needed it to avoid a tie and keep their streak of wins going to open the season.
Garcia was fed the game-winning goal by defenseman Jack LaGrandeur, his first assist of the season as well.
The Panthers continued to get strong goaltending from junior Evan Miriello, who made six saves in the game, and earned his third shutout.
Miriello faced a lot of shots against the Hornets, but he was up to the task each time. He is averaging 3.7 saves per game.
The fact that the Panthers have yet to allow a goal in each of the first three games is a credit not just to Miriello stellar play in net, but the tenacious play of the defense in front of him.
Sophomore Tyler Ghazanfari has taken the reigns defensively with a team-high 58 steals on the year, while LaGrandeur has 44 steals.
Junior Austin Mills wound up with the most scoring opportunities, as he led the team with three shots on goal against the Hornets.
The win meant that the Panthers passed their first road test of the season after home victories against Menendez, 2-0, and Beachside, 2-0.
Arijan Batovac has been a consistent offensive presence with nine shots on goal through three games to lead the Panthers, followed by Mills with eight and seven from senior midfielder Brogan Donnelly.
Other goal scorers for the Panthers through three games, include Aiden Kennedy, Sergio Reyes, Mills, Garcia, and Donnelly.
Ghazanfari leads the team in minutes, having played all but five minutes in the first three games.
