Bishop Moore boys and girls returning to finals
Bishop Moore’s boys and girls soccer teams will play in FHSAA state championship games Saturday at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale.
The girls team, back-to-back Class 4A state champions, faces Tampa Academy of the Holy Names (12-4-1) at 4 p.m.
The boys team, state runner-up each of the past two seasons, matches against the winner between Miami Gulliver Prep (23-0-1) and Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (9-12-2) at 7 p.m. The Hornets lost 3-2 to Gulliver Prep in last year’s championship game.
Senior Jace Overturf scored twice Thursday while helping the boys team improve to 24-2-0 during a 3-0 win vs. Lakeland’s McKeel Academy (19-4-0).
For the girls, sophomore Madeline Preusser netted the decisive goal for Bishop Moore (14-6-2) off a deflection in the middle of the 18-yard box with 30 minutes to go in a 2-1 win vs. Delray Beach American Heritage (10-2-3).
Junior Piersen Rawlin scored off a header on a corner kick from Katsi Maria Bengoa four minutes into the match. American Heritage knotted the score at 1 on a goal by Francesca Carbone with four minutes to go before the break.
The girls game was a rematch of state championship games won by Bishop Moore in 2022 and ‘23.
Admission to state tournament games is $11 in advance and $14 on day of game through the GoFan website. Matches are streaming online for a fee at NFHSNetwork. com.
Today’s Class 2A boys state final between Orangewood Christian (16-3-1) and Tampa Carrollwood Day (17-2-1) was moved up from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m., “due to anticipated weather,” according to Rams athletic director David Pitts.
Defending champion Montverde Academy (17-4-1) plays Merritt Island Edgewood (14-2-2) in the 3A girls final Saturday at 10 a.m.
Large classes
Three Orlando-area soccer teams scored Wednesday regional wins to clinch state tournament berths for next week at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
Windermere High and West Orange boys play in separate Class 7A semifinals on Thursday.
West Orange needed overtime on the road to win 3-2 vs. previously unbeaten Jacksonville Mandarin (19-1-2). The teams each scored twice in the second half.
Windermere won 3-1 against Cypress Creek (14-4-3) on goals by Jose Moyetones, Jose Prato and Francesco Sanchez. Junior goalkeeper Allan Gesualdo finished with 8 saves.
Horizon’s girls won 1-0 at Daytona Beach Seabreeze (12-7-1) on a goal by sophomore McKenna McBride to advance to Tuesday’s 5A semifinals.
Tuesday Class 5A girls
No. 2 North Fort Myers (17-3-0) vs. No. 3 Tallahassee Lincoln (16-51), 10 a.m.
No. 1 Plantation American Heritage (14-3-1) vs. No. 4 Horizon (15-3-1), 1
Buzz: Horizon has amassed no less than 11 wins in a season since the school opened in 2021-22. Claudia Rodriguez Medina and Grace Nichols each have 9 goals for the Hawks. Aida Bell has 8 goals and 9 assists. American Heritage is the defending state champion. Lincoln was a semifinalist last season. State final is March 1 at 4 p.m.
Thursday Class 7A boys
No. 2 Windermere High (16-1-1) vs. No. 3 Boca Raton (22-0-2), 4
No. 1 Doral Academy (15-2-2) vs. No. 4 West Orange (13-4-1), 7
Buzz: Jose Moyetones leads Windermere with 24 goals and 20 assists. Allan Gesualdo has allowed just 6 goals against in goal for the Wolverines. Senior midfielder Finlay Prain has 15 goals and 5 assists for West Orange. Doral Academy and Boca Raton lost in state semifinal matches in 2023. State final is March 2 at 7 p.m.