26 SportsUnion | OCTOBER 19, 2018
From Page 17
does not have an off-sea-
son. Soccer is very big in
Greece, but not many fe-
males play it. It’s most-
ly a man’s sport, which
was very surprising for
me when I found out. So
whenever I come for a
visit in Greece everyone
loves to ask me how my
season went, how many
goals I’ve scored and they
all love to see pictures
and videos of goals I’ve
scored from the season.
I was even invited last
year before Christmas to
a showcase hosted and
organized by a profes-
sional Greek soccer team
for young girls in my age
group. Soccer is a big part
of my heritage, so in a
way, playing soccer helps
me stay connected to my
roots.”
If you haven’t figured
it out by now Panagop-
oulos is a very good soc-
cer player. The junior
has shown steady im-
provement
throughout
her time on the Ken-West
soccer team, and with the
Western New York Flash.
The competition with
the Flash has greatly im-
proved her skill around
the net. In her first year
with Flash, she was
thrown into games in the
ECNL – one of the tough-
est leagues in the coun-
try. Playing against that
top competition showed
what Panagopoulos need-
ed to work on.
“Last year was my first
year at Flash as well as
playing in the ECNL. The
competition was defi-
nitely more intense and
physical. I was very ex-
cited to be in an atmo-
sphere with players who
wanted to succeed and
work hard during games
and practices as much as
I did,” stated Panagopou-
los. “The competition fu-
eled my desire even more
to be the best, because I
realized how many more
great soccer players there
are that I can soon be bet-
ter than with hard work.
The competition led to
me striving to be better,
faster and stronger indi-
vidually and as a whole