Lakeland Christian captures first 3A girls championship

Lakeland Christian got unanswered goals from Katie Carnes, Maddie Lopez and Carly Sabat to rally from a 2-1 deficit and captured the first state championship in school history with a 4-2 victory over American Heritage-Delray in the Class 3A state title game Wednesday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.

It was the first loss of the season for the fifth-ranked-in-the-nation Stallions (14-1-1), whose only other blemish this season had been a 0-0 draw with Martin County on Jan. 20.

The team was hobbled with injuries as junior defenders Layla Sapirstein and Jillian Moss were limited but played most of the match. Moss hadn’t played in two games and hadn’t practiced. It forced American Heritage-Delray coach Krisztian Mikoczi to play University of Tennessee signee Emily Schleifer at central defense and out of her customary role as a defensive midfielder.

“We had to move Emmy back and kind of lost the middle of the field,” Mikoczi said. “I am proud of the girls. It was a fantastic year. The girls were hungry and worked together really well.”

American Heritage hadn’t been to the state finals since 2015, when it fell to Jacksonville Bolles 5-0 in the Class 2A final. It defeated Trinity Catholic, 1-0 (4-3 on penalty kicks) for its last state title in 2014.

The Stallions have won six state championships.

“It is great to be back to the final four,” Mikoczi said. “It was a great experience for our young team and hopefully we will recruit some good players and make it back again next year.”

Lakeland Christian (22-1-1) pressed the attack early and nearly got on the scoreboard in the game’s second minute. The Vikings’ Maddie Lopez broke free down the right side, but her centering cross pass past an onrushing Stallions’ goalkeeper Emily Peterson went untouched in front of the open goal. Just three minutes later, Carly Sabat struck a shot off the crossbar.

Lakeland Christian got on the scoreboard first when Lyndsay Greene launched a long free kick from midfield that reached the box and Stallions senior Schleifer tried to control.The ball glanced off Sc hleifer’s foot toward the open net as Peterson was off her line, and Sabat tapped the ball in for the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.

American Heritage equalized in the 19th minute, when Nyela Calnek slotted a pass to fellow sophomore Cheyenne Lam, who ripped a shot to the back post to knot the game at 1-1.

“The first goal they got was an unlucky touch off a set piece, but we knew they were going to put us under high pressure,” Mikoczi said. “Once they scored and the dust settled, we took over the game.

“I think the last 20 to 25 minutes of the first half we created some opportunities and had the beautiful goal.”

American Heritage grabbed its only lead of the contest at 2-1 off a throw-in deep in the Vikings territory that resulted in a goal by Stallions freshman Isabella Larriu. Her shot glanced off the back post and into the goal with 30 minutes remaining.

Six minutes later, Lakeland Christian tied the game when Lopez struck a left-footed cross that Sabat shot and was punched away by Peterson. The ball landed on the foot of senior Katie Carnes, who scored her 27th goal of the season.

In the 63rd minute, Kaelyn Diaz sent a through ball to Lopez, who outraced the Stallions defense and scored her 22nd goal of the year to put the Vikings up for good at 3-2. There was a momentary lapse as Larriu laid on the turf after a collision with a Vikings defender.

“We had a breakaway where our forward [Larriu] had a breakaway and was fouled, and the referee didn’t call it,” Mikoczi said. “Instead of having a free kick, they scored a goal from the counterattack and that really changed the rhythm of the game. The turning point really was the injuries. The other team had a lot more depth and scored off our mistakes.”

Lakewood Christian iced the game with 10 minutes remaining when Ramsey Watkins launched a 45-yard free-kick that Peterson was unable to control. ButCarnes won the ball and found Sabat alone in front of the open net for her 10th goal of the season.