This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s soccer midfielder Emmanuel Mil Cruz. For the first time ever this season, Orange reached the state playoffs in back-to-back years. Mil Cruz, one of eight seniors on the team, was tied for the team lead with five goals. Mil Cruz scored Orange’s a goal in his senior night game against Eastern Alamance, a 1-1 tie on October 19. Mil Cruz also had a goal in Orange’s 3-2 win at Southern Alamance on September 20. In the season opener at Durham School of the Arts on August 17, Mil Cruz notched the game-winning goal on a header in the second half as the Panthers won 2-1. Mil Cruz spent two years at the varsity level for the Orange men’s soccer team. He had four goals in his junior season, including a tally in Orange’s memorable 3-2 upset over Chapel Hill on October 13, 2022. He also had an assist in the Panthers 3-2 win over Northwood, which was the last time the Chargers and the Panthers played as conference opponents. Mil Cruz ended his Orange career with nine goals and 22 points. He will graduate in June.