Rivals square off with final four on line
The Florida High School Athletic Association regional finals kick off Wednesday across the Jacksonville area for Classes 5A, 6A and 7A, the last step before next week’s final four in DeLand.
REGION 1-7A
Creekside (13-1-2) at Bartram Trail (16-4-1)
6 p.m.
The Battle of Longleaf Pine is back, and in girls soccer, it’s a giant matchup: The Knights and Bears own the last four state trophies. The teams tied 0-0 in November before Bartram Trail won a thrilling district final 2-1 in overtime on Ali Fletcher’s 99th-minute goal. For Bartram Trail, senior Carolyn Johnson (11 goals, 15 assists) sets the tone in a hard-working, opportunistic midfield. Creekside thrives on the flanks with Chloe Iliff and Lily Paisant, while UCLA-signed senior Avery Robinson, injured in the district semifinal, could be a wild card after her return for the final minutes against Lake Mary. The winner advances to Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand for a state semifinal on Feb. 29, with the opponent to be determined after the FHSAA uses its ranking formula to re-seed the final four.
REGION 1-6A
Nease (13-3-3) at Ponte Vedra (19-1-1)
7 p.m.
Another Battle of the Bridge. After Isabel Bostic’s deciding penalty kick propelled Nease past Niceville, the Panthers now enter their first regional final since 2008, the season before Ponte Vedra opened its doors. The topranked Sharks made it look easy against Tallahassee Chiles, with two goals apiece for strikers Jenny Dearie and Lily Morse as well as another shutout for senior keeper Audrey Johnson. Ponte Vedra defeated Nease 3-0 in the regional championship three weeks ago, including two goals off the bench from junior midfielder Quinlee Irwin.
Nease’s Skylar Kurtz (9) and Ponte Vedra’s Hadley Conway (19) leap for a header.
Next up for the victor is a Feb. 28 state semifinal in DeLand.
REGION 1-5A Clay (14-2-1) at
Tallahassee Lincoln (15-5-1)
7 p.m.
For the first time since 2001, Clay is one game away from the final four. The prolific attacking combination of sophomore Brooke Bunton and junior Kirra Dodson, accounting for more than 50 goals, is making history in Green Cove Springs. But to reach the state semis, they’ll need to take down a Lincoln squad that beat them 4-2 in the district final on goals by Tizzy Holly, Lita Frost, Natalie Nelson and Kaley Keister. Seniors Rosemary Lopez and Estella Diaz are key goal producers for a well-balanced Trojan attack. The winner plays a state semifinal in DeLand on Feb. 27.