Four girls’ soccer teams reach state-title games
After a scoreless first half with few scoring opportunities for the Plantation American Heritage girls’ soccer team, Emily Thompson took her chance.
The freshman received a pass near the middle of the field and had a pair of defenders in front of her. She meticulously slashed her way between the duo and baited Tampa Largo’s keeper to move to the front of the box.
It gave Thompson just enough room to place a perfectly struck ball into the lower-left portion of the net six minutes into the second half and start Heritage’s second-half outburst.
What appeared to be the making of a competitive Class 3A state semifinal quickly turned into a 3-0 rout for the Patriots over Largo. Now, after a twoyear drought, Plantation American Heritage (19-1-1) is back in the state championship game and has the chance to claim its 11th state title when it plays Gulf Breeze on Friday at 7 p.m. in DeLand.
“We were a little unlucky in the first half, and I told them at halftime that we didn’t want to go into PKs. We wanted to make sure that we took care of it and that’s what we did,” Patriots coach Cindy Marcial said.
Senior Taylor Dobles and junior Gabby Scarlette scored Heritage’s other two goals.
Dobles struck in the 55th minute when a mistimed corner kick ricocheted in her direction and she tapped it past the keeper. Scarlette closed it out 10 minutes later after a pair of her teammates’ shots were blocked inside the box.
Class 4A semifinal — Archbishop McCarthy 4, St. Petersburg 1: The sign was up on the locker room wall at the their school earlier in the day and you couldn’t miss it. “Redemption Night.” And indeed it was for the Archbishop McCarthy girls soccer team following a victory over St. Petersburg on Friday night in a Class 4A state semifinal at Pines Charter High School.
It was nearly a year ago to the day that the Mavericks were leading Estero 4-1 on the road with just 20 minutes left before Estero scored four times in the final 20 minutes for a stunning 5-4 win.
But if coach Mike Sica and his girls are going to complete this remarkable “redemption” season, they have one hurdle left, and it’s a huge one. That’s because awaiting in next week’s Class 4A state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand will be another perfect team.
Montverde Academy defeated St. John’s Bartram Trail 1-0 in the other semifinal and is also unblemished at 24-0-0 and ranked No. 6 in the nation, setting up a monster state championship game next Friday at 1 p.m.
It is believed to be the first girls’ soccer state championship game between two undefeated, untied teams.
Cassie Lawson, Devyn Encalada, Jaden Roberts and Sofia Mallardi scored for McCarthy after falling behind 1-0 early.
Class 5A semifinal — Cypress Bay 2, Vero Beach 0: For the first time since the school opened in 2002, the Cypress Bay girls’ soccer team will play for a state championship.
The Lightning advanced to the Class 5A title match following its victory over Vero Beach at Cypress Bay High.
Sophomore forward Megan Morgan tallied a goal in each half.
Cypress Bay (19-0-1) will face the Lake May/Palm Harbor University winner for the state title next Friday at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand at 4 p.m.
Morgan gave her team the early lead with a goal in the seventh minute on an assist from Fabiola Menendez.
“There girls worked so hard and Megan stepped up game after game,” Cypress Bay coach Kate Dwyer said. “It’s such a great group of girls to get us through this.”
Class 2A semifinal — Cardinal Gibbons 1, Tampa Academy of the Holy Name 0: Senior Abby Bidwell scored the game winner with about five minutes left in regulation to send Cardinal Gibbons to its first state championship.
Class 1A semifinal — Lakeland Christian 1, Miami Country Day 0: A state championship berth continues to elude the Miami Country Day Spartans (14-7-2). A first-half Lakeland Christian goal proved to be the difference.