Brodsky helps Douglas reach state for 1st time since ’11

PARKLAND — Stoneman Douglas junior goalkeeper Carly Brodsky kept her team’s season alive as she stopped two penalty kicks in the shootout to send the Eagles to the Class 7A girls state soccer semifinals for the first time since 2011.

Ironically, the last time Stoneman Douglas reached the state semifinals they took out Vero Beach in the regional finals. That game wound up, 3-1, however, Tuesday night’s match was far from a high-scoring affair as the teams finished off 100 minutes of regulation and two overtimes before the Eagles prevailed 1-0 (4-2 in penalty kicks).

“It was just a guessing game and I read where they were going,” said Brodsky, whose team will face Cypress Bay in the state semifinal on Friday. “I didn’t hesitate. This is huge. We haven’t made it to states in so long.”

Vero Beach, which defeated Dwyer in penalty kicks in the regional semifinal, went first in the shootout and Brodsky sprawled to her right to save the penalty kick by Vanessa Paiement. Douglas took the lead for good when Skylar Lund converted her kick past Vero Beach goalkeeper Mallory Padgett.

Vero Beach scored on their next two kicks, by Chayse McGirt and Madison Coddington and Stoneman Douglas answered as Emily Burke and Samantha Novik both scored. Brodsky then stopped Emmons’ shot, while Chloe Rogers ended it for the Eagles.

Brodsky also used a little gamesmanship late in the contest to preserve the, 0-0, scoreline. Stoneman Douglas (9-2) was whistled for a handball in the penalty area with seven minutes and 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Vero Beach striker Morgan Emmons’ shot was high and over the goal leaving the score knotted at, 0-0.

“I just stalled a little bit,” Brodsky said. “I was thinking that I had to do whatever I could to make them miss. That was the plan.”

It was the second consecutive penalty kick shootout win by Stoneman Douglas in the postseason. They took out Boca Raton, 3-2, in the regional semifinals.

“I am gaining more confidence in the shootouts,” Brodsky said. “In my freshman year, I made three saves in a shootout win over Boca Raton. I think we can win states. We have been putting in the hard work and we will be there.”

Stoneman Douglas lost in the regional semifinal last season and in the regional quarterfinals in 2019. The Eagles won five state titles in a row from 2003-2007 and fell in the state title game in 2009.

“I am just super proud of the effort they gave tonight,” said Douglas coach Laura Rountree. “Vero Beach is a very talented team and it could have gone either way, especially when you get down to penalty kicks.

“Carly has worked extremely hard to get better every day keeping focused and working hard,” Rountree added. “We work hard on penalty kicks and her confidence is gaining and we believe in her.”

Vero Beach (9-4) lost in the semifinals Cypress Bay the past two seasons. They also lost in the 2016 state semifinal to eventual state champ Oviedo and fell in the 2017 and 2018 regional finals.

Girls soccer regional finals

Tuesday

7A

Stoneman Douglas 1, Vero Beach 0(4-2PKs). Cypress Bay 4, Palmetto 0

6A

Lourdes Academy 2, St. Thomas Aquinas 1( PKs) 5A

Archbishop McCarthy 2, Bayside 0

4A

Cardinal Gibbons 2, Gulliver Prep 0

3A

American Heritage-Delray 7, West Shore 2

2A

Westminster Academy 5, Divine Savior Academy 0

Girls soccer state semifinals

Friday

7A

Stoneman Douglas at Cypress Bay, 6

5A

North Fort Myers at Archbishop McCarthy, 7

4A

Bishop Moore at Cardinal Gibbons, 7

3A

American Heritage-Delray at Westminster Christian, 7

2A

Canterbury at Westminster Academy, 7

Boys soccer regional Finals

Tuesday

7A

Spanish River 5, Centennial 1

6A

Doral Academy 3, Fort Lauderdale 2(3-0PKs)

3A

Trinity Prep 4, American Heritage-Delray 1

2A

Westminster Academy 2, Divine Savior Academy 1(4-2PKs)

Boys soccer state semifinals

Friday

7A

Spanish River at Gulf Coast, 7

2A

Canterbury at Westminster Academy, 7