Stallions fall in state final, perfect season ends

Slug Line:By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Players sat for several minutes in disbelief, hands on their heads or crying.

The American Heritage-Delray girls soccer team never thought it would end like this.

The Stallions had stampeded through the season undefeated at 31-0. They had taken on and beaten all comers, in their own classification and in several higher ones.

But Saturday at Lockhart Stadium, the Stallions quest for perfection died in soccer’s version of Russian roulette, penalty kicks.

With the score tied 1-1 after two overtimes, Tampa Prep made all three of its penalty kicks; Heritage missed all three, and just like that, the dream season was over.

“Obviously, it was very painful for the girls,” Stallions coach Steve Burgess said. “And then they’ll be able to look back on what they actually accomplished this season. You really can’t take anything away from what they accomplished.

They just didn’t get the cherry on top of the icing.”

The loss also continued Burgess’ unfortunate luck in penalty kick shootouts. The Stallions coach said his team has not won a single match by PKs in his six years at the school.

American Heritage received some bad news before the match even started, as leading scorer Stacey Payne – who had set up the game-winning goal in the semifinals against St. Johns Country Day – came down with a fever of 102 Friday. She was unable to play in the match, except at the end when Burgess inserted her for the final 28 seconds of the second overtime and had her take the first penalty kick, which was saved by Terrapins keeper Courtney Zwetsch.

“Penalty shootout is a gamble, it’s a roll of the dice, and this is a girl that has not missed a penalty kick in the time that I’ve known her,” Burgess said. “And I think regardless of the fact she could only play for a couple of minutes, all of her teammates were expecting her to step up and take the first one … if you don’t let her take one, her teammates are saying ‘hang on, she’s our best penalty taker, and she’s not being allowed to take one.’”

Tampa Prep’s Taylor Richardson made the first PK of the round, then Caroline Cheek and Paige Goodwin followed with successive makes.

On Heritage’s second PK try, Madison Wagener hit the left post. Mandy Freeman had the last chance for the Stallions, but her kick went over the goal, and Tampa Prep could celebrate.

The match itself was a tale of two halves: Tampa Prep dominated the first half, scoring in the 13th minute on a cross from Megan Wall to Tournament MVP Chelsea Klotz. In the second half the Stallions controlled the action, outshooting Tampa Prep 11-3 and scoring in the 51st minute when Dee Long sent one into the box that Alle Salerno finished for the tying goal.

“First half was really rough on us and I was surprised the score was only 1-0,” Stallions keeper Samantha Perretty said. “Second half, we got everybody pumped up in the locker room and we just came out stronger.”
American Heritage won the state title in 2004 and 2006, and lost in the title match in 2005 and 2007.

“Ultimately, you’re going to be judged obviously on whether or not you won the state title, and we didn’t,” Burgess said.

“That’s the main measuring stick of the season. What we were able to do to get here, everybody needs to take a lot of pride in that. And we’re going to come back and do whatever we need to do to go 32-0 next season.”

Atlantic takes on Palm Beach Lakes

The Atlantic High girls basketball team plays at Palm Beach Lakes at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in a Class 6A regional semifinal.

The Eagles (25-4) lost both meetings to the Rams this season.

Bobcats lose district basketball final

Santaluces nipped Boca Raton 65-64 in overtime in the District 10-6A final Saturday.

Colby Wohlleb scored 16 points, Anthony Anderson added 14 and Greg Westry and Jon Peterson each scored 11 for the Bobcats (19-8).

Boca Raton will play at Jupiter in the regional quarterfinal Thursday.

Saint Andrew’s fell 52-46 to Pahokee in the District 13-3A final.

Vinny Panza scored 17 points and Francis Geubelle added 15 for the Scots (22-4). Saint Andrew’s plays a regional quarterfinal at Pine Crest Thursday.

In District 14-1A, Grandview Prep routed Boca Raton Christian 87-35. Isaac Sosa scored 23 points and Altavious Carter added 17 for the Pride (24-1).

Grandview will host Trinity Christian in a regional quarterfinal Thursday.

Boca PAL’s Rodriguez is second in regions

Boca PAL boxer Jorge Rodriguez, 15, was the runner-up in the 100-pound division at the regional Silver Gloves competition.

Rodriguez will be ranked third in the nation in his weight bracket when rankings are released.

Rodriguez and five other Boca PAL boxers will compete in the Junior Olympics in April.

Scots lacrosse wins

The Saint Andrew’s girls lacrosse team defeated Boca Raton High 14-0 Friday.
Ali Wolff scored five goals, Megan Vanderslice added one and Sydney Kaplan made seven saves for the Scots (2-0).

FAU softball falls

The Florida Atlantic softball team lost both of its games on the final day of the FAU Kick-Off Classic.

The Owls (2-2) did not play Saturday due to both of their games being rained out. In the first game of the day, the Owls lost to No. 12 Michigan 5-2 in nine innings. FAU led 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth before a Wolverine sacrifice fly tied the game and then Dorian Shaw hit a three-run homerun to win the game for Michigan.  

In their second game, the Owls lost 5-2 to UMASS.

FAU will host its second annual “Strike Out Cancer” tournament. A fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the tournament, with proceeds benefiting Relay for Life. Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Long Island, Missouri State and North Carolina State will be participating in the tournament.