Prospect had two chances to get to the finals of the Central Coast Section soccer playoffs--both in boys and girls competition.
But the Panthers won't be going to the finals, not after both squads suffered tough 1-0 losses in CCS Division II play last weekend.
The two Prospect teams each posted shut-out wins in the first round of the playoffs, but each lost heartbreakers on Saturday.
The Prospect boys opened with a solid 2-0 win over Gunn, but lost 1-0 to Seaside four days later. The Prospect girls, meanwhile, opened with a rousing 7-0 victory over Carlmont, but faced elimination on Saturday after a 1-0 loss to St. Ignatius.
Junior striker Francisco Martinez and junior midfielder Russell Ortiz each scored goals to lead the Panthers to the 2-0 win over Gunn in the opening round of the CCS Division II boys playoffs.
Martinez knocked in a second-half free kick to break a scoreless tie, and Ortiz drove in a penalty kick later in the half to provide the Panthers with a little insurance.
But the 2-0 win was followed by the tough 1-0 loss to No. 2 seed Seaside that brought Prospect's season to an end. The Panthers finished up 10-8-3 for the year.
Martinez, Ortiz and sophomore forward Myles Forman were the big scorers for the Panthers this season, and all three will return for Prospect next year. The three combined for more than 30 goals this year, including goals and assists.
Juniors Adam Cole and Raul Pastrana were other big assist men for the Panthers this winter, and junior Jose Morales and sophomore Santiago Ortega each knocked in a pair of goals.
Prospect is a good bet to return to the CCS show a year from now, since the Panthers lose just one player to graduation, senior goalkeeper Brandon Delgado. The rest of the Panthers will return next year, including junior goalie Josh Hawthorne.
Juniors Andrew Heling, Larry Gould, Sergio Quiano, Juan Meleza and Kris Hamilton and sophomore Julian Sam all figured in the scoring for the Panthers this season.
Juniors Jon Ogawa, Luis Mata and Jose Serva, sophomores Jason Hawthorne, Daniel Melgoza and Servando Morfin and freshman Matt Fischer were other members of the Prospect boys varsity squad.
The Prospect girls, meanwhile, opened the playoffs with a solid 7-0 win over Carlmont before falling 1-0 to St. Ignatius to see their season come to an end. The Panthers finished a solid 13-5-5.
Lindsay Spanek knocked in three goals, two off assists from Kristel Munch, to lead Prospect to the rousing win over the Scots.
Mariko Yoshihara knocked in a pair of goals in the win, and Munch and Susan Rainey also scored goals. Ashley Bulik joined Munch with a pair of assists, and Yoshihara, Rebecca Eustace and Shani Armstrong also had assists.
But the lopsided win only advanced the Panthers to the CCS semi's, and a single SI goal dropped Prospect from the tournament.
Still, it was quite a year for the Panthers, who won 13 games in the 1998-99 campaign.
Yoshihara, Armstrong and Munch were the big scorers this season for Prospect. The three combined for nearly 60 goals, including goals and assists. Yoshihara and Munch are both seniors.
Spanek, a junior who knocked in a half-dozen goals after missing much of the season with an injury, also figured as a top scorer for the Panthers. She and Armstrong will return next winter to lead Prospect in its bid for a CCS return.
Seniors Brianne Copes, Jennifer Eustace, Rebecca Eustace, Bulik, Alison Prehn and Sarah Yarnall all figured in the Prospect scoring this season.
Kathy Schaefers, Janet Long, Cameron Kato and Rainey join Armstrong and Spanek as talented returners to next year's team.
In boys Division I play, Lynbrook and Homestead both made it to CCS, but both Santa Clara Valley Athletic League teams lost in the first round.
The Vikings dropped a 2-0 decision to Westmoor in first-round play. They finished the year with an 11-6-2 overall record.
Homestead, meanwhile, fell 5-0 to Santa Teresa to fall out of the playoffs. The Mustangs ended up 10-8-4 for the year.
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