Raiders rally with 12 goals in second half to win first state title

Hey school officials: Make room for a new trophy.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders — a powerhouse in numerous sports — won their first state title in girls’ lacrosse on Saturday as the Raiders rallied to defeat Vero Beach, 17-9, in the Class 2A final in Kissimmee.

Aquinas (13-1) trailed Vero Beach (16-2) at halftime, 6-5, but the Raiders dominated after intermission with 12 of the final 15 goals scored.

“It was insane,” said Ava Yovino, who led Aquinas with five goals and four assists, both team highs. “The second half is how we wanted to play all season.

“We peaked at the right time.”

Aquinas coach Kevin

Gilligan said the secondhalf barrage was prompted by a change of strategy.

“[Vero Beach was] pressuring our midfielders up high,” said Gilligan, who led Aquinas to the title in his first year as head coach. “So, we put our middies down low, and it confused them. We inverted our attack, and we got a lot of back-side goals that way.”

Aquinas got three goals each by Ava Martino, Peri Riegner and Taylor Bank.

Ella Bartlett added two goals and Sofia Guttmann had one.

In addition, Aquinas goalie Skylar Troyan made 10 saves to secure the win.

“The girls were all great,” Gilligan said. “All I did was show them what to do, but the girls took care of the rest. This is all about them.”

Indeed, the girls were thrilled with the win. As soon as the clock read all zeroes, Yovino said she

“pushed Skylar to the ground and jumped on top” of her.

Troyan was on the bottom of the pile with a mass of bodies weighing on her during this epic celebration.

“I told Skylar, ‘I’m sorry, but just wait,’ ” Yovino said.

The emotions of the victory also hit Martino, whose voice was hoarse by the time she spoke to the Miami Herald.

“I’ve been screaming since [Friday],” Martino said of the 8-7 state semifinal win over Steinbrenner. “I’m speechless. I’m filled with ecstatic-ness.”

Martino said this was a team effort and not about any one player.

“Everyone had an amazing game,” she said. “We all put our hearts into it, and we realized in the second half that we wanted it more than them. We were unstoppable.”