PORTLAND, Ore. - Under the guidance of Coach Shawn Bundy, the PCC women's soccer team made significant strides this season, focusing on building team cohesion and individual development. Bundy's primary goal for the season was to build team unity both on and off the field.
A big source of motivation for the team this season was watching players who put in extra effort during the off season perform at a competitive level during the season. The standout example of dedication and hard work was co-captain, sophomore midfielder Karly Murray who was named MVP. In only 15 games, Karly managed to put up a very impressive stat collection including 11 shots, 5 goals, and 1 assist.
Bundy expands upon the importance of finding players who want to push themselves. "It is all about how bad you want it", Bundy said. Throughout the season the team stay motivated through hard work and dedication.
With only four returning players he knew it would be essential to create good chemistry between the new team members. Bundy, who emphasized the importance of connection during our interview, aimed to make sure that these relationships would drive the team's success throughout the duration of the entire season.
The memorable moment of the season was defeating Clackamas Community College to secure a spot in the playoffs. It was a must win game. The team delivered an outstanding 4-0 shutout victory, a performance that was very meaningful given the previous year's heartbreak which was a 0-1 loss to the same Clackamas team that kept the team out of the playoffs. Bundy describes this moment as not only a victory for the team on that day, but a victory of the entire season to showcase all of the team's hard work and resilience to bounce back after the previous loss last year.
Coach Bundy is confident in the level of challenge the competitive league bring to build player development toward winning aspirations. Looking ahead at next season he feels confident that the team will be able compete for the league title. Bundy sees the PCC's women's soccer team having the potential to win a championship.
With the current roster already looking strong, Coach Bundy talks about the future of the team. A significant number of recruits have already signed and with the returning players, they have already nearly built a full roster. He also mentions the possibility of adding one or two more players through upcoming open tryouts. Bundy expressed his excitement for the season and is already planning for a successful season ahead.
The PCC Men's Soccer team made strides this season, with players like Freshman Kaito Thammavong playing a pivotal role in the team's success. Kaito's responsibilities on the field included creating scoring opportunities by delivering crosses and taking shots when necessary. He aimed to contribute as much as possible to the team.
"My role on the team this season was to play as a forward. I worked on keeping my fitness level up and collaborating well with my teammates," Kaito told me. Although he worked hard, he acknowledges that there were areas where he could have done more. "I believe I could've contributed more in terms of my number of goals and assists," Kaito said.
When reflecting on the season, Kaito emphasized the strong chemistry that developed within the team. "Our team had great chemistry both on and off the field. As we got to know each other better, we began supporting each other, and the bond grew stronger," Kaito told me. This camaraderie led to better overall team performance, both during practices and games.
"The highlight of the season was when we beat Chemeketa for the second time to make the playoffs," Kaito said. This victory marked a significant accomplishment and was a high point in the season.
Kaito also reflected on the most challenging game of the season, a playoff match against Clark Community College. They were a formidable opponent that eventually went on to take second place in the playoffs. Despite facing a few key injuries, Kaito and the team gave their best effort to prepare for and compete in the match. "The most challenging game we played this season was against Clark during playoffs. We tried our best to prepare, but our situation wasn't ideal with a few injured players," said Kaito.
This season, Kaito learned a lot about his own versatility as a player. "I learned that I'm more adaptable than I thought. There were times when I had to step into a new role or play a different position, which helped me become a more well-rounded player," Kaito said. He also credits the coaching staff for helping him play smarter on the pitch. "The coaching staff helped me improve the tactical side of my game by introducing new tactics and by having me play different positions," Kaito told me.
Kaito's focus during the offseason is to maintain his fitness level and work on injury prevention. "I'm focusing on maintaining my fitness level and strengthening for injury prevention. My goal is to strengthen my body while staying fit as I struggled with a few injuries last season," Kaito said.
The PCC Panthers play in the South Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). Men's NWAC season all-stars for outstanding play were Kaito Thammovong, Mohamud Abdikadir, Joseph Roeper, Gerardo Contreras, and Alexis Llamas. Mira Thornton, Karly Murray, Aleena Calvert, Aurora Hammerstedt, and Tiearra Braithwaite were named as NWAC All-Stars.
The 2024 Women's Team record was 6 wins, 4 losses, and 2 ties. The Men's Team ended the season with 4 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie. Tryouts for both teams for the 2025-2026 season are being held in May at the PCC Soccer Complex at the Rock Creek Campus. The Women's team is holding tryouts May 3rd, from 9am-12pm. The Men's team tryouts are May 10th from 9am. Interested athletes are encouraged to arrive early. You can follow all Panther athletics on Instagram @pccpantherathletics
