Penalty kick ices region

Am. Heritage tops host Archbishop McCarthy in girls

SOUTHWEST RANCHES — American Heritage sophomore Samantha Villaverde was all smiles following her team’s 1-0 victory over host Archbishop McCarthy in a girls soccer Class 5A regional final on Tuesday night.

And with good reason, as she converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute and the lead held up as the state’s top-ranked Class 5A team advanced to Friday’s state semifinal at home at 7 p.m.

According to fhsaa.com, American Heritage will host Wesley Chapel’s Cypress Creek as the Patriots get back to the state final four for the first time since 2019.

Villaverde got a postmatch victory ride as it was something she dreamed of when she was a kid.

“It’s been my dream to come to this school since I was 5 years old,” said Villaverde, who leads the team with 22 goals. She started at American Heritage when she was in the eighth grade. “I used to be a ball girl at some of their games and watched them win a few of their state championships, so being out here is one of the coolest things I can say and being out here as part of their rebuilding and getting this far is an amazing feeling.”

The Patriots played the contest without their head coach Cindy Marcial, who was red-carded in a 2-0 win over Merritt Island in the regional semifinal.

The Patriots have won the third-most state championships with 11, the last coming in 2019. The others were 2000-02, 2005, 2009, 2010, and from 2014-16, where they won 53 consecutive games. Archbishop McCarthy won its lone state title in 2020 with a 2-0 win over Ponte Vedra. The victory was sandwiched around two state final losses.

Both teams lost in the regional semifinals last year — American Heritage 1-0 to Naples, while Archbishop McCarthy fell to Pembroke Pines Charter. American Heritage is 14-1-1 against Archbishop McCarthy dating back to 2011 and has outscored the Mavericks, 45-6 during that span. The lone win for Archbishop McCarthy came in 2019 in a 1-0 win on Dec. 19.

American Heritage (16-22), winners of seven games in a row and unbeaten in its past 15, has outscored its opposition 74-9 for the season. It was the team’s sixth consecutive shutout, and it hasn’t lost since a 2-1 setback against Boca Raton on Nov. 28. It tied Benjamin 2-2 on Jan. 12.

The Patriots, ranked No. 8 overall in Florida and No. 12 nationally, were guided by assistant coach Braulio Garro.

“Obviously, nothing changes because I have been on the staff for a long time,” Garro said. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?

“Every game we play with heart, and if you play with heart, it can carry your further than you believe.”

Archbishop McCarthy (21-2), saw its five-game win streak come to an end. It was the No. 2 ranked team in the state in Class 5A and No. 21 in the nation according to MaxPreps. The team’s previous loss came against Lourdes (1-0) on Jan. 18. Its past five wins were all by shutout, and Villaverde also ended the Mavericks’ 17-game home winning streak.

Archbishop McCarthy had 16 shutouts and outscored its opposition 90-7 this season.

“Everything that we saw was what we expected them to do,” said Mavericks coach Mike Sica. “Even though they got the penalty kick right before halftime we were still confident. The game just stretched and stretched and at the end we couldn’t find the back of the net.”

Sica said he was proud of his senior group of 15 players and said they will rebuild around some good young players.

“There was a time when we were just happy to get to the game against American Heritage and we would lose 5-0. Those times have changed.”

Other regional final results 7A (1) Boca Raton 2, (7) Treasure Coast 1 (2) Stoneman Douglas at (1) Cypress Bay, Wednesday, 6 p.m. 6A (1) Lourdes Academy 2, (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 0 (1) Oviedo 2, (2) Seminole Ridge 0 4A (1) American Heritage-Delray 4, (3) Somerset Academy 0 3A (1) Benjamin 3, (3) Edgewood 1 (2) University School 3, (4) Westminster Christian 1 2A (2) True North Classical vs. (1) South Florida HEAT at Tequesta Trace Park in Weston, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. (3) Jupiter Christian at (1) Lakeland Christian State semifinal matchups (according to fhsaa.com) Games Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted 7A Boca Raton vs. TBA Stoneman Douglas-Cypress Bay winner vs. TBA 5A Cypress Creek at American Heritage 4A American Heritage-Delray at McKeel Academy 3A University School at Benjamin

GARY CURRERI PHOTOS/FOR THE SUN-SENTINEL American Heritage sophomore Samantha Villaverde celebrates with sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Milffe after scoring on a penalty kick in the first half in the Region 4 Class 5A girls regional final on Tuesday night at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches.

Villaverde gets a victory ride from her American Heritage teammates following the Region 4 Class 5A girls regional final on Tuesday night at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches.