The girls soccer team showed poise, resilience, and heart through their season and took that with them into the playoffs. They beat Millennium in the first round, but then lost to Pinnacle 3-0.
The soccer team could not have made it that far without the play by their three forwards, Marisa Costagliola (Junior), Makenna Dunn (Sophomore), and Ansley Warner (Junior). All three had 46% of their teams points, 49% of their teams goals, and 40% of their teams assists. The three of them combined made 24% of their shots while taking 41% of their teams shots.
“This season we really came together as a team, we wanted to win, and we played with heart,” Costagliola stated. Costagliola was an all around player, with eight goals and seven assists; she led the team in points with 23.
“Scoring a goal when your team needs it the most is the best feeling in the world.” She made the game winning goal twice, once against Hamilton and the other against Mountain Pointe. In the four games where the Pumas scored one point, Costagliola scored three of those games. When the team needed a clutch goal, you better know they were looking for Costagliola.
“This season we worked well together, and we all had similar skill sets,” Dunn said. Dunn led the team with nine goals and came in second with points. She was an offensive juggernaut and at times was unstoppable, against Mesquite she had the teams first and only hat trick (which means scoring three goals). “It felt good, [and] I had a sense of accomplishment.” When the team had over one goal, Dunn scored every time except twice. It goes to show how much of an impact Dunn had on her team.
“Getting an assist is just as good as scoring a goal, ” Warner proclaimed. Warner led the team in assists with eight and earned Perry’s player of the game award four times. She scored against Millennium in the playoff game which helped them get a victory. In the last four games she really caught fire, she scored four goals, had two assists, and made 44% of her shots. And in those four games Perry won all except one, which was against Pinnacle in the playoffs. When they faced Mesquite the second time, she beat them all by herself scoring all of the two goals. “We were better this season than last season, and seem to keep getting better.”
These three girls will be returning next year for just more than a playoff win; they will be seeking the state championship trophy.
“They provided what we needed, and I am looking forward to having them next year to go and get state,” Garald DeGrow praised. The girls soccer team is only getting better because this year was their best record in school history and that still is not enough for DeGrow.
“We are always on the path to improve, and even though we had our best season, I still want to bring that championship home.” The vicious trio of Costagliola, Dunn, and Warner are ready to lead their team to a deeper run in the postseason next year. DeGrow added, “With Ansley’s passing, Marisa’s speed and Makenna’s shooting, we have the intangibles to go and win state next year.”
