Cougars roll into 2A final with overpowering display

Canterbury scored early and often, eventually mercy-ruling host Westminster Academy 8-0 in the Class 2A girls state semifinal soccer game on Friday night.

Canterbury’s Jasmine Perez led the charge with two goals and two assists as the Cougars advance to their first state final, where they will play the winner of nine-time defending state champion St. John’s Country Day or Geneva in the state final on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.

Canterbury seized a quick 2-0 advantage in the game’s first 13 minutes as Ellie Miller scored in the sixth and Kali Young scored to make it 2-0 in the 13th minute.

The Cougars’ Taylen Turco served a corner kick that Alexandra Acevedo headed in for a 3-0 lead in the 21st minute. Canterbury’s Perez ripped a shot from 20 yards out that struck the crossbar and fell to the feet of Taiya Arrigo for a tap in goal in the 35th minute for a 4-0 halftime lead.

Canterbury (21-2-1) winners of seven straight games, ended the game with four goals in the next 21 minutes. Perez scored in the 48th and 57th minutes, while Giana D’Altrui and Lucy Waldau also scored.

The Cougars, who have outscored the opposition 121-13 for the year, edged last year’s Class 2A state runner-up, Shorecrest Prep 3-2 in the regional final Tuesday night. This was their first appearance in the state semifinals.

Westminster Academy (12-5-2) had its six-game winning streak come to an abrupt halt. Westminster Academy second-year girls coach Caue Rodrigues was happy with the fight his team displayed in reaching the state semifinals for a second straight year and fourth time in school history.

The Lions also lost in the state semifinals in 2005 and 2016.