By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

FOLEY – The Pelham Panthers’ boys soccer program looked like a dominant force in the opening of the regular season, winning the Boys Elite division of the Southern Shootout with a 3-0 record.

Pelham outscored its opponents 9-0 in the three games played, using a potent offense, stellar defense and shutdown netminding to exit the tournament unscathed.

The Panthers’ rampage through the tournament began with a 2-0 shutout over the St. Paul’s Episcopal Saints on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Elder Esquivel-Garcia and Orlando Garcia-Avalos started their 2025 campaigns off strong with both players scoring a goal in the game. Jeffrey Palacios and Kevin Tena-Aguirre combined for a clean sheet in the game, preventing St. Paul’s from capitalizing on any scoring chances.

Pelham’s win on Friday, Feb. 7 over the Elberta Warriors was perhaps the most impressive win of the tournament for the Panthers.

Pelham won 5-0, attacking Elberta’s defense from all angles and putting on a defensive clinic. After not scoring in the Panthers’ first game, Acxel Garcia-Avalos scored a brace against the Warriors.

Luis Bravo, Jair Camargo and Jesus Figueroa all joined the scoring party, with each player putting one through the net.

The Panthers’ tournament run concluded with a 2-0 win over the Gulf Shores Dolphins on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Orlando Garcia-Avalos and Bravo continued their scoring ways, each netting a goal in the matchup to pace Pelham’s attack.

The goalkeeping of Palacios and Tena-Aguirre was spectacular all tournament, with every game producing a clean sheet.

The Panthers saw six different players record a goal in the tournament, displaying a potent offensive attack. With clean sheets from both goalies, head coach Patrick McDonald could not have asked for a better start to Pelham’s season.

Up next for the Panthers is a matchup with the Calera Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the University of Montevallo. Following this game, Pelham will play in the Lakeshore Shootout tournament.