St. Paul Panthers Win it Again

The St. Paul Panthers eighth-grade boys soccer team played a big game Nov. 6, topping Sacred Heart 4-0 in the championship game of the St. Paul Soccer Tournament.

With cheering parents on the sidelines, Jacob Weis and Michael Laaker each scored two goals.  The Panthers have a 5-3-1 record.

The Panthers have won the St. Paul tournament six out of the past eight years, and also won the city/county championship in fifth and sixth grade.  The team's goal is to add to that total this year.

Coach Joe Laaker has coached the team since pre-school.  It is his 10th year coaching several of the boys, most of whom have been part of the team since third grade. Laaker said he is fortunate to have the support of the parents. He says it's been an honor to coach a great group of boys.

Laaker said he is proud of the team's progress, going from pre-school to eighth grade and becoming a good soccer team. He says he looks forward to following them through their high school careers.

One of Laaker's favorite stories is about the team's playoff game in the snow.

"A lot of the mothers did not think the team should play, but I told the boys they would never forget that game," he said. "The fact we won helped.  The team still talks about that game and the fun they had."

"This will be the last season for some of these boys to play as a team," Laaker said. "They will go off to different high schools, and play for new teams.  This, I hope, will be a memory they carry with them though out the rest of their soccer career."

St. Paul's Panthers team includes Anthony Christante, Brandon Dedic, Evan Eichenlaub, Adam Gilmore, Tyler Goede, Matt Holzem, Michael Laaker, Austin Laslo, Daniel Plogger, Kurt Prunty, Nick Stabile, Jacob Weis, Mitchell Widiger, Alec Woods and Tanner Young.  Joe Laaker is the head coach; Tom Holzem is the assistant coach.