The Panther Pride opened the spring season at the 2011 Emerald Cup in Kansas City, Kansas facing teams from Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado.  The Panther Pride open the tournament against The Omaha FC Elite the number 4 ranked team in Nebraska.  The two teams battled most of the half at mid field with both teams getting opportunities to score.  The Pride found the net first when Mikaela Mockenhaupt made a pass to Maddie Pence who deftly passed the ball back to an overlapping Mockenhaupt who beat the defenders and put the ball past the goalie. The Pride continued to control the game throughout the second half and were rewarded with a late goal when Jordyn Sundberg intercepted a goal kick, dribbled forward and sent a shot over the outstretched hands of the keeper.  Kristy Zimbelmann was in goal making several outstanding saves to record the shutout and preserve the 2-0 victory.

The Pride returned to the action later in the day to face the Prior Lake Splash.  The Pride came out slow in the first half and spent much of the half in their defensive third.  With seconds remaining in the half Prior Lake was able to find an opening in the defense and score.  The Pride came out stronger in the second half but were unable to find the net and ended with a 2-0 loss.  In the third game, against the Pride SC Red from Colorado, the Pride needed a victory to make the championship game.  The Pride dominated the game from the opening kick off.  They were able to take the lead when Kelsey Kraft beat several defenders and took a shot that bounced off the keeper and went to a waiting Mockenhaupt who blasted it into the back of the net.  One goal was all that was needed to secure the victory and a trip to the championship game.  The Pride went up against Topeka United in the finals and were unable to score losing 1-0 in a hotly contested match.  Throughout the tournament outstanding defense was provided by Kamryn Coppes, Pence, Jodie Makara, Lizzy Kelley, Carli Hix, Nicole Charielle, and Hanna Ehlers. The Pride Defense with goalie Zimbelmann only gave up three goals and recorded two shutouts in the tournament.  The Midfield of Caitlin Lukowski, Sundberg, Taylor Bailey, Katie Warren, Megan Pfister, and Gianna Lopez controlled the center of the field throughout the tournament and set up the Pride offensive attack. Forwards for the Pride were Mockenhaupt, Kraft and Kaitlyn Olcott who all continually pressured the opposing defenses.  The Pride are trained and coached by Brian Udy of Soccer Success. Congratulations to the Panther Pride on an outstanding tournament against some top teams in the midwest!