WINDSOR
By the 21-minute mark in the first half, the Bruton Panthers soccer team had jumped up to a 2-nil lead against the Windsor Dukes, which was quickly brought to a nearly insurmountable 3-nil lead at the 18-minute mark.

Over the course of the game, the Panthers increased their lead to 5-nil to upset the Dukes in the semifinals of the VHSL 2A Conference 33 Tournament. The Dukes, after finishing the season 12-2, had earned a first-round bye. The Dukes were coming off of a 12-game win streak, which had been enough to earn the co-ed squad first place in the TriRivers District.

Bruton got the upper hand early on and kept the momentum for the first half, even forcing Windsor to switch keepers. The Dukes were more aggressive in the second half and were able to secure some shots on goal, but the Panthers’ defense kept the team in check. Bruton scored four of its goals in the first half, and added the fifth late in the second.

By not reaching the conference finals, the Dukes will not be able to play on in the 2A Regional tournament. Next year’s squad will lose nine seniors: Quinton Winnigan, Connor McKnight, Marquese Watson, Michaela Rose, Grant Morrill, Sydney Warren, Jacob Watson, Curtis Guilford and Austin Meier.