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Panther boys cap 7-0 title campaign KLAMATH FALLS � The South Medford Panthers made it all the way to the Class 4A boys soccer state semifinals last November. Graduation swept the nucleus of that team out the door and left the Panthers with few battle-tested veterans. There were few indications during pre-conference play that South might once again rise as the Panthers struggled against some of the state�s top teams. Nonetheless, South found its stride when Southern Oregon Conference play began and rolled to its eighth straight victory Tuesday, capping a 7-0 conference run with a 2-1 victory over Klamath Union. "This is extremely satisfying for me and an accomplishment for the boys," said third-year coach Dave Potter. "They worked smart and allowed me to push them and maybe reach some limits and discover those limits can be expanded." South (10-3-1) will open the state playoffs Nov. 4 against the No. 3 team out of the Pacific-9 while Klamath Union will be at home against the Three Rivers League No. 3 team. Klamath scored first when Luis Garcia � the hero of the Pelicans� 1-0 victory over North Medford last Saturday � took a pass from Ricardo Guerrero on the left side of the goal and buried it in the right side of the net in the ninth minute. Justin Baldoni responded for South in the 20th minute on a play that Potter termed one of the best header combinations his teams have turned in. Josh Neville fed Pat Lower on the side and his cross to Baldoni was on the money. "One, two, three," Potter said. "Just like you draw it up and just like you practice it." It stayed that way until five minutes remained in regulation when Baldoni got in the act once again. Corey O�Neill shuffled a pass from the inside to Baldoni on the outside, who ripped the ball into the net. "When you get the opportunity to finish, your feet better be ready or you don�t get the shot off," Potter said. "Our feet were ready today." At that point, the Panthers slammed on the brakes and went into a defensive mode. "They had a couple shots across the goal mouth," Potter said. "At the same time, we were able to take care of the opportunities." Potter said his four seniors � Craig Tomlins, Josh Neville, Corey Parks and Kyle Hadley � were instrumental in propelling the Panthers into the playoffs for the 10th time in 15 years. "These seniors," Potter said, " have been my four aces." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.