Preston’s goal sends Raiders to Final 4
FORT LAUDERDALE — With her team tied in overtime with powerhouse American Heritage-Delray, St. Thomas Aquinas coach Samantha MacCurdy gave her trainer a high-five.
Facing a Stallions team that defeated them by 13 goals earlier in the season, the Raiders had a shot at vengence. With 2:26 left, the referees whistledHeritage for a penalty in front of the net, awarding JadaPreston with an eight-meter shot for the win.
“There was no hesitation inmy mind shewas going to score,” MacCurdy said.
The junior attack delivered, scoring the winning goal to stun previously unbeaten American HeritageDelray 10-9 and send the Raiders to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
The finish set off a frenzy of celebration as players threw their sticks in the air and the home crowd at BrianPiccoloStadiumerupted.
“My adrenaline was going and I was waiting for them to blow the whistle,” Preston said, recalling the shot. “I thought itwas going [in] and Iwas freaking out.”
The Raiders will open state semifinal play at Jupiter High School next Friday against Barron Collier. The Naples-area team upsetVeroBeach 9-7 onFriday.
St. Thomas overcame a three-goal second-half deficit to triumph over the Stallions (19-1) and avenge their 19-6 loss fromFeb. 14.
“That 13-point loss was the best thing that could have happened to our season,” saidMacCurdy. “From there, they came to the field and said, ‘No. Not again.’ We fixedevery problemwe had, obviously, and we did it just in time.”
St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore Carly Steinlauf, a Johns Hopkins commit, scored a game-high six goals. Preston finished the night with three goals, including her game-winner.
Heritage-Delray star freshman Caitlyn Wurzburger, who entered the game averaging 11.3 points, was held to a seasonlow three (two goals, one assist), thanks to stellar defense by St. Thomas senior Gabby Ramsey. Wurzburger, a Syracuse commit, finished the season with101 goals and117 assists.
“I just did what I had to do for my team,” Ramsey said. “I knew [Wurzburger is] a great player and had fast footwork. I just made sure minewas faster.”
The two teams were tied 3-3 with five minutes left in the first half before Heritage broke through to take a 5-3 lead into halftime.
The Stallions opened up a 6-3 lead less than three minutes into the second half, but couldn’t put the Raiders away. Preston, Steinlauf and Gabby Cash combined for four straight goals as STA took its first lead with 6:26 remaining.
Wurzburger scored to tie it 7-7, but the Raiders netted two straight goals from Preston and Steinlauf with 2:33 to go. Still, the nationally ranked Stallions wouldn’t go quietly, scoring two goals in a 51-second span to pull even at 9-9 and force overtime.
The Stallions played two players down in the extra session after a pair of yellow cards, setting the table the dramatic final moments.