Aquinas girls’ soccer team beats Lourdes to claim region title
After having to watch the Lourdes girls’ soccer team celebrate at their expense three of the past four years, the St. Thomas Aquinas girls finally got to see how the other side lives.
Thanks to a pair of second-half goals and stout defense, the Raiders pulled off a big 3-1 upset victory over Lourdes Academy in a Region 4-6A final on Wednesday night at Columbus High School.
The win exacted a measure of revenge for St. Thomas over the Bobcats, who had beaten the Raiders three of the past four years in the regional finals.
The Raiders, who used to make trips to the state final four like it was a birthright, will make their first trip since 2017, when they won a state-record 15th title, and fifth in a seven-year span. But they will once again play the role of underdog. Aquinas will be the No. 4 seed and take on No. 1 seed Ponte Vedra, the No. 1 team in the state regardless of classification, in a 6A state semifinal on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
“There was a story that came out on Max Preps during the week about how Lourdes had ended our season over these last few years and would St. Thomas finally be able to get over the hump and I think that kind of fired our girls up,” Aquinas coach Kim Faulkner said.
“This group was really pumped up tonight, absolutely focused and ready to go from the opening whistle. We’ve been trending in the right direction late in the season and are peaking at the right time.”
Faulkner watched her team take a 1-0 lead just before the first-half water break when Madison Poleo scored off an assist from Sophie Barnes.
But the Bobcats (16-3-1), who have had to frustratingly settle for state runner-up finishes in the past three seasons, had a quick answer as Sienna Aviles scored five minutes later for the equalizer and the game went to the half in a 1-1 tie.
Early in the second half, the Raiders took the lead for good when freshman Marissa Arellano scored off an assist from Genesis Hernandez. It appeared that that lead would be short-lived as well because just four minutes later, St. Thomas keeper Camryn McEwen was faced with a one-on-one Lourdes breakaway and made an outstanding save to keep her team up by one.
“That was a huge moment,” Faulkner said. “A big-time save by Camryn. If they [Lourdes] tie the game right back up, who knows where it goes from there.”
The St. Thomas defense was a wall from that point on and when Barnes scored off a counter-attack with 15 minutes left to give the Raiders a valuable insurance goal, it was only a matter of time before the postgame celebration started.
Region 4-7A final — Stoneman Douglas 2, Weston Cypress Bay 1: Douglas finally found a way to move past a familiar nemesis on Wednesday night.
Emily Rodriguez and Grace Dykstra each scored goals to lead the Eagles (15-1-2), who will next face St. Johns Creekside in a Class 7A state semifinal on Thursday at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. It’s Douglas’ first appearance at state since losing to Cypress Bay in 2021.
The Eagles’ victory broke a string of five consecutive seasons of Cypress Bay (16-1-4) making it to the state final four.
“I’m really proud of how hard they fought,” Douglas coach Laura Rountree said. “Cypress Bay has knocked us out the past three years. To get that win tonight was a blessing and it’s great to be a part of it.”
After a fairly even first 30 minutes of the match, Rodriguez put Douglas ahead when she controlled a rebound off a shot that bounced off the crossbar and booted it home.
Douglas added to the lead when Dykstra scored on a penalty kick after the Eagles drew a foul inside the 18-yard box.
Cypress Bay drew a penalty kick in the 78th minute and Antonella Solari capitalized to cut the deficit to one goal. But the Lightning were unable to level the score in the closing moments.
Rountree credited the experience her team had from past battles with the Lightning and a tough schedule for finally being able to get through to state.
Douglas will now chase its first state title since winning five in a row from 2003 to 2007.
Region 4-5A final — American Heritage 1, Pembroke Pines Charter 0: Sophomore Allison Aleman delivered the game-winning goal off an assist from Zahira Freeman to propel the Patriots (14-3-1) back to the state final four.
Heritage will host Winter Garden Horizon on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand as it chases its 13th state championship.