with my team.”
Panagopoulos knew to
be able to compete with
some of the best players
in Western New York,
and the country, she
needed to make sure she
could finish around the
net. Footwork is key to
a goal scorer. Without
great footwork you might
as well be a defender or
keeper.
So, during the offsea-
son, Panagopoulos made
sure to concentrate on
her footwork and finish-
ing around the goal.
“My dad always told me
to be a good forward you
have to be dangerous in
the box. Having good feet
is extremely important
to being dangerous and
being able to move from
side to side. Foot work is
one of the pieces to being
a good soccer player, es-
pecially in the box when
having defenders right
on your back,” stated Pa-
nagopoulos. “With foot
work you’re able to turn,
or do a move to quick-
ly get around a defender
and have a shot on net. I
also believe speed is im-
portant to have as for-
ward in order to f ly by the
opposing team. Every-
thing done as a forward is
very quick.”
While she only tallied
five goals last year as a
junior, college coach-
es quickly took note of
her work ethic and po-
tential. Sometimes po-
tential is more import-
ant that peaking while
in high school. Sure she
hasn’t put up the gaudy
numbers that some high
school soccer players put
up throughout the years,
but her game translates
well at the next level.
While she had opportu-
nities to play elsewhere,
Panagopoulos chose to
stay home and play for
Daemen College, an up
and coming Division II
program right here in the
heart of WNY. It gave her
a chance to stay at home,
while play some of the
better competition in the
country. Daemen is the
only Division II program
in WNY.
“When I initially start-
ed the recruiting process,
I always liked the idea
of staying home to gain
my education and con-
tinue my soccer career
while still being able to
appreciate my mother’s
Greek cooking. Imme-
diately Daemen College
took my interest because
it has an amazing PA pro-
gram, which is the career
I am looking to have in
the future<” explained
Panagopoulos. “I really
enjoy the small campus,
and how everyone knew
everyone there, it made
it feel more inviting and
personal. Daemen College
also has a great D2 soccer
program with high com-
petition, which I know
will make me work hard
and strive to be the best.
When we met with coach
Dan I knew Daemen Col-
lege was the right choice
for me. It ideally had ev-
erything I was looking
for when searching for a
college.”
Panagopoulos
knows
she won’t just be able to
step on campus and start
right away without put-
ting in the work. That’s
why this season Panagop-
oulos will be doing every-
thing possible to improve
every aspect of her game.
Scoring goals is the
most important thing
when it comes to being a
forward, but on the colle-
giate level it’s about the
all-around game. Being
able to do the little things
game in and game out.
Being physical fit to be
able to take the punish-
ment of a grueling colle-
giate schedule is also im-
portant.
“I’m so excited to con-
tinue my soccer career
at Daemen College and I
hope to contribute right
away. Even though the
pressure of committing
is off my shoulders, I
have new pressures such
as being the best I can
be so when preseason at
Daemen starts, I will be
more than ready,” stated
Panagopoulos. “I defi-
nitely need to keep work-
ing hard, and need to
show that I am ready for
the college jump. I’d like
to continue to work on
OCTOBER 19, 2018 | SportsUnion
my ball control, because
you can always get bet-
ter. I’d also like to gain
even more endurance so
that I will not get as tired
during
practices
and
games, which will make
more proficient through-
out the season.”
Before college, however,
Panagopoulos has been
improving during the
high school. Last year she
was disappointed with
her performance with
Kenmore West, only scor-
ing five goals. She knows
she needs to improve her
goal output if she is to
help lead the Blue Devils
to a sectional title and a
run through the playoffs.
“I expect many more
goals and assists from
myself, unfortunately I
was unable to play in the
first couple games due to
not having enough prac-
tices, because I was visit-
ing my family in Greece.
This season I expect
much more from myself,
especially knowing that
this is my final year play-
ing as a Lady Blue Devil.
I want to put everything
out there and give my
100 percent at all times,”
stated Panagopoulos. “I
definitely will not accept
anything less than being
the best this season. I re-
ally believe that this past
year I have developed into
a great soccer player. I’ve
been training all summer
with Matt Waddington
and I chose not to go to
Greece this year because
I wanted to train and be
ready for the upcoming
season. I have more en-
durance, better shots, and
make good runs. I know
I am definitely ready for
this season. I want to lead
the Kenmore West soccer
team to a better season
than the past couple of
seasons we’ve had. I ex-
pect myself to be a good
leader and captain while
making the girls on my
team strive to be the best
just as I do.”
Panagopoulos
has
formed a pretty good
one-two punch with fel-
low forward Molly Tubin.
Tubin, who will be head-
ing to Niagara University,
was the leading scorer for
27
the Blue Devils last sea-
son. Her and Panagopo-
ulos have a great chem-
istry that can only get
better through the season
this year.
Panagopoulos
hopes
that chemistry will lead
to big things for the Blue
Devils come playoff time.
“I believe Molly and I
up top together is a super
strong duo. We each have
our own strengths and to-
gether we are able to ac-
complish a lot in the at-
tacking third. When I take
corner kicks, I always try
to give a ball that Molly
can head into the net. In
the past two scrimmages
we’ve had, I’ve placed the
ball in the perfect spot for
Molly to head it in. I be-
lieve corner kicks will be
a strong suit this year for
our team so I’m very ex-
cited for league games to
begin,” stated Panagop-
oulos. “Molly has great
ball control while I have
the speed which makes
us a great combination.
Molly and I do great give
and go’s to one another
and she often gives me
great balls to run onto.
We play off of each oth-
er very well and we both
have powerful shots, so I
think we will definitely
give the defense of any
team we face a run for
their money.”
As the season comes to
an end, it’s just the begin-
ning for Faye Panagopo-
ulos. Her family will still
be able to see her play
when she attends Dae-
men College in Amherst.
And she will be to still get
all that great Greek food.
It’s a win, win, for ev-
eryone.
“The best part about be-
ing Greek is definitely the
food. I love Greek cook-
ing,” stated Panagopou-
los. “Another thing I love
about being Greek is my
HUGE family. They are all
so loud, fun and crazy for
soccer.”