Hialeah sinks South Broward

MIAMI — Hialeah’s Alejandra Aranguren scored a game-high 10 goals to lead the Thoroughbreds to a 26-9 win over South Broward in a girls state water polo semifinal on Friday.

This was the third consecutive state semifinal appearance for the Bulldogs and despite injuries to South Broward’s best player, Emma Leto, the Bulldogs were able to keep the game tied early into the second quarter before Hialeah took control.

Emma, who had 156 goals entering the game, started and tried to play through the injuries she suffered to her back, chest and legs, including three broken toes as a result of a car accident last week.

“[Emma] just couldn’t deliver what she usually delivers. It killed us,” said South Broward coach Chris Bloese. “The girls really relied on her, maybe a little too much.”

Mia Leto, Emma’s sister, and Sydney deVroedt scored a pair of goals each in the first quarter, which ended tied at five.

The score was tied at six early in the second quarter before Hialeah converted three consecutive South Broward (17-5) turnovers into goals to take a 9-6 lead.

“We didn’t have our legs under us,” said Bloese, who is stepping down after 16 years as South Broward coach to move to South Carolina. “They lost their energy.”

Hialeah (13-1) led, 12-8, at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs, 14-1, in the second half. Paola Dominguez Castro added six goals and Ashley Luy scored five goals for the Thoroughbreds.

Hialeah will face Lake Mary for the state championship on Saturday.

JENNIFER LETT/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Hialeah’s Ashley Luy scored five goals during the girls’ waterpolo semifinals at the Ansin Aquatic Center in Ransom Everglades School in Miami on Friday.