Final 4 for American Heritage-Delray
They beat Cardinal Gibbons in second half to reach 4A girls semi
DELRAY BEACH — The American Heritage-Delray girls soccer team is heading back to the state final four as Cici Alarcon and Bella Larriu both scored in the second half to lift the host Stallions past Cardinal Gibbons 2-0 in a Class 4A regional final on Wednesday night.
American Heritage-Delray (10-1-3) advances to the state semifinal in Auburndale on Feb. 22.
The American Heritage-Delray girls soccer program has captured six state championships. The Stallions are searching for their first state title since 2014 and have finished as the state runner-up for three consecutive years.
“It was a tight game and it could have gone either way,” American Heritage-Delray coach Julian Slotty said. “I want to give them a lot of credit. That was probably our toughest game so far in the whole season. They took everything out of us today. It feels good to win. We are all very happy. We celebrate the win and then we focus on hopefully two more games.”
Alarcon, a University of Miami signee, scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute to break a scoreless tie. The senior standout drilled the shot into the lower left corner of the net. The Stallions were able to capitalize with the goal after a foul was called inside the box.
“I was a little bit nervous,” Alarcon said. “I thought about where I was going to place it. I knew it was going in. I definitely think it was an important goal because that shifted the game scoring that. We got the second goal right after.”
Larriu, a Nova Southeastern University signee, launched a shot from outside the box into the upper right corner of the net to make it 2-0 in the 77th minute. The senior center forward leads the team in goals scored.
“It’s just an amazing feeling,” Larriu said. “Being able to do it with my team and the girls that are my family. Being a senior and knowing it’s my last year, I really wanted to just put my heart out and literally leave everything on the field and I think I did that tonight. We have overcome more obstacles now than we have in any other year.”
Junior goalie Andrea Herzog recorded the shutout in net for the Stallions.
American Heritage-Delray has bounced back after dropping a 3-2 contest in the district tournament against Somerset Academy Canyons.
They had a 3-2 victory against St. Brendan in the regional quarterfinal and a 3-0 win against Somerset Academy Canyons in the regional semifinal.
Cardinal Gibbons (10-7-3) had cruised past MAST Academy 4-0 in the regional quarterfinal and recorded a 2-1 victory against North Broward Prep in the regional semifinal.
“I think it was a full season of work,” Cardinal Gibbons coach Margo Flack said. “We played a really tough schedule. At the end, it all came together. They worked really hard for it. Heritage played a great game. It was a very good matchup. Momentum changes quickly. We still fought and had plenty of chances after that penalty kick and things just did not go our way tonight.”