The South Dade and Coral Reef girls’ soccer teams win in GMAC quarterfinals and advance
Playing their first GMAC playoff contest in five years, the South Dade girls’ soccer team had a flair for drama on Tuesday afternoon.
That after the Buccaneers, after battling Palmetto to a scoreless tie in regulation, won it on penalty kicks 1-0 (4-2 PKs) thanks to some great play from their goalkeeper, to knock off the Panthers in a GMAC quarterfinal contest at South Dade High School.
South Dade advances to the GMAC semifinals where the No. 4 seeded Bucs will travel to Coral Reef High School on Wednesday at 3:30 to take on the top-seeded Barracudas. Reef will be looking to avenge a 1-0 loss to SD two weeks ago, its first district loss in five years.
Valentina Santana was the hero Tuesday as the Bucs keeper, after pitching a regulation shutout in front of the net, then recorded three saves in the penalty kick shootout. Janeisy Gamino, Gabriellla Rodriguez, Camilla Garcia and Dashelle Bolivar scored penalty kick goals for South Dade which improved to 9-3-3.
“Valentina was clearly the MVP out there for us today,” said first year South Dade coach Brittany LaRosa. “She really came through in a big way. For a freshman to do what she did in a big game like this shows what kind of player she is. She’s had an outstanding season and we look forward to having her protect our net in the next round of GMACs and districts next week.”
OTHER QUARTERFINALS
▪ Coral Reef 8, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0: The top seeded Barracudas were supposed to score early and often against the Trojans and did exactly that as they cruised to the mercy-rule win over the Trojans at Coral Reef High School.
Katherine Diaz and Mia Vessepo each scored two goals to lead the way for Reef, which improved to 14-2-1. Daniella Perez, Tianna Rivera, Ashley Alfaro and Emma Diez each scored single goals as the Barracudas led 6-0 at the half and scored two quick goals early in the second half to end the contest on the eight-goal mercy rule. Diaz, Perez and Alfaro each had an assist as well.
▪ Miami Springs 4, TERRA Environmental 0: A cold, windy frigid night did little to bother the host Golden Hawks as they scored all four of their goals in the first half and cruised to the easy win at Stafford Park.
Gabi Cimino, Jasmine Romay, Omayra Garcia and Elizabeth Vizcaino all scored single goals for Springs while Cimino and Ashley Romay each had an assist.
Springs (15-1) will host Ferguson in a GMAC semifinal contest Wednesday at 3 p.m at Stafford Park.
▪ Ferguson 1, Coral Gables 0: The host Falcons scored the game’s only goal five minutes before halftime and made it stand up the rest of the way to record the win.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Miami Country Day 71, North Broward Prep 11: MCD – Nelms 17, Hession 15, Sheppard 12, Martin 11, Corbitt 10, Guevara 3, Fishman 3. NBP – Ziaing 4, Henningsen 2, Mueller 2, Jaffy 2, Kalandian 1. Half: MCD 47-6. 3-pointers: Hession 3, Guevara, Martin, Fishman, Sheppard 1. Rebounds: Hession 10. Assists: Corbitt 7. Steals: Corbitt 7. Blocks: Hession 5. MCD: 14-9
▪ North Miami 50, Orlando Oak Ridge 31: Carla Jean 10 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds and 5 steals. Desiree Sinclair 13 points, 7 rebounds. Kendra Jusma 10 points, 12 rebounds. Esther Joseph 11 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds. Jenny Halaire 10 rebounds.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ Ransom Everglades 4, Somerset Silver Palms 1: Lindsay Gould 3 goals, Sophia Juhasz 1 goal. Preston Edmunds 2 assists. Talia Berler and Yasmine Ghurani 1 assist each.
