Miami Beach boys, Palmetto girls win GMAC soccer titles

While most keepers might walk up immediately and position themselves in front of the goal before a penalty kick, Miami Palmetto senior Stevie Ricklick waits for her opponents to place the ball and get ready for their kicks while she stares them down.

She then slowly walks into their path, never taking her eyes off them.

“There’s no pressure on me, only on them,” Ricklick said. “They have to get it past me, so all the pressure is on them. They’re supposed to make it. Everything about it is a mental game, especially for the goalie.”

Ricklick did this repeatedly on Friday evening at Traz Powell Stadium after the Panthers and district rival South Dade went to a shootout following a 0-0 tie through 80 minutes of regulation play.

Twice, she blocked her opponents’ shots. And two more times, they misfired.

The result was Palmetto edging South Dade 3-2 in the penalty kick round to secure its second consecutive GMAC girls’ soccer championship. The Panthers (12-3-1) beat the

Bucs (10-4-1) for the third time this season and have yet to give up a goal to them this season. The teams could meet again in districts and regionals.

“It’s exciting because I transferred in from another school and I had yet to experience a championship in soccer,” Ricklick said.

Ricklick recorded her sixth shutout, which is not bad for someone who is in her first season playing soccer and goalkeeping.

Ricklick, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point next fall, spent the past three seasons playing basketball as a point guard for Miami TERRA Environmental Academy and is still playing basketball at Palmetto.

Boys’ GMAC championship — Miami

Beach 1, Palmetto 0: Mathew Brid’s goal from roughly 35 yards out in the 23rd minute gave the Hi-Tides the school’s first GMAC championship in the sport since 1999.

“I just took a chance,” Brid said. “I’m more of a creator [of scoring chances], and I don’t take too many shots, but this time I said, I’m going to do it.”

The Hi-Tides (13-2), who are seeking to make a deep playoff run much like they did when they reached the state final in 2018, defeated Varela and Mourning in the earlier rounds of the tournament this week.

Fresh off this title and a triumph in the Tampa Bay Invitational last week, Miami Beach will enter the district playoffs in two weeks as the top seed in its region in Class 6A.

“That tournament win in Tampa last week came against good competition and helped us a lot,” Miami Beach coach Edgar Botto said. “I think the kids are much more confident now.”

AAndre C. Fernandez: @FernandezAndreC