American Heritage-Delray, University fall in state semis
For the fourth time in four years the American Heritage-Delray’s girls’ soccer team came up empty in its bid for a state championship.
Two-time defending Class 4A state champion Orlando Bishop Moore (14-6-2) got goals from Pierson Rawlin and Madeline Preusser in each half to propel the Hornets to a 2-1 win and advance to Saturday’s state championship match.
The Stallions (10-2-3), who last won a state title in 2014, scored in the first half off a goal by Francesca Carbone.
The Hornets took the early lead on a header goal by Rawlin off a corner kick from Katsi Maria Bengoa in the fourth minute, while American Heritage-Delray equalized on a goal by Carbone off a pass from Isabella Larriu in the 36th minute to knot the score at halftime.
Carbone received the ball, took one touch and struck a left-footed goal past the onrushing goalkeeper Maggie Murphy from 14 yards out into the open net.
“We recovered well after that early goal and made some adjustments that led to a beautiful equalizer,” said Stallions coach Julian Slotty by phone. “We controlled the game for the most part but missed the decisiveness and quality in the final third.”
In the 51st minute the Hornets’ Preusser broke in through traffic and took a shot that was initially saved by American Heritage-Delray goalkeeper Andrea Herzog, but the rebound squirted out to Preusser, who scored for the game-winning goal.
“It is a hard pill to swallow, but soccer is like that,” Slotty said. “A game is decided by goals and nothing else. Congrats to Bishop Moore, who will play Saturday to make it three championships in a row.”
Bishop Moore outshot American Heritage-Delray 16-7, including 11-5 in the second half.
Bishop Moore had an opportunity to ice the game with 5 minutes, 23 seconds left in the game when there was a foul in the penalty area. Avery Jacobs’ leftfooted shot was saved by Herzog, who dove far to her right and kept the Stallions’ hopes alive.
University School edged by Edgewood:
Youth and inexperience after a rash of injuries finally caught up to University School as it dropped a 2-1 decision to Edgewood (Merritt Island) in the Class 3A girls state soccer semifinal at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale on Wednesday morning.
University School coach Diego Estremedoyro knew from the get-go that his team would have to fight and claw to reach the Class 3A state championships this season.
Early in the year Estremedoyro lost sophomore defender Sian Kellier, and in the past two playoff games lost three more key starters, including sophomore forward Shayla Delacruz, junior forward Jada Graham and junior defender Giana Sanchez to season-ending injuries.
During the state semifinal Kellier was sidelined for half the game, then sophomore defender Simmy Mangan was lost late in the match, forcing multiple adjustments to the lineup, including moving leading scorer Taylor Smith and freshman Sadie Zelnick back from their attacking positions. Zelnick would ultimately score in the 88th minute for U-School.
“We lost the two starters with ACL injuries, and when sophomore Sian Kellier went down today, I think the girls were in a state of shock for a few minutes,” Estremedoyro said by phone. “It took us a little time to get our composure back.”
Kellier would later return in the second half.
“We are not a deep team,” said Estremedoyro, who guided the Sharks to a second straight final four and the second in school history.
“When you lose two or three starters, it puts a strain on the rest of the players. We had to rely on girls that didn’t play all year this year … it’s been a tough year with the injuries.”
NSU (15-4) had the game’s best early chance in the 19th minute as Mia Herrera’s header off a corner kick from Smith struck the crossbar and came out.
Just one minute later Edgewood (Merritt Island) got on the board on a goal by Gianna Lopez to take a 1-0 lead into halftime. Elizabeth Corrigan scored in the 70th minute to extend the margin to 2-0 before Zelnick’s late tally.
“It was a tough year with injuries,” Estremedoyro said. “In my 25 years of coaching, I told the girls I have never lost three starters to ACLs. You have your nicks and bruises, but never that.
“I am proud of them. To fight back and make it back to the final four is a testament to the team. They were resilient.”
Edgewood ranked No. 15 overall in the state and No. 3 in Class 3A, advances to play on Saturday against Montverde Academy.
The Red Wolves (14-2-2), also ranked No. 25 in the nation by MaxPreps, contained Smith, who entered the game with 24 goals and 33 assists.
University School, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A by MaxPreps, hadn’t been scored on since a 2-0 loss to Lourdes Academy on Dec. 21.