The girls varsity soccer team from the King’s Academy has had a successful and memorable season to date. After posting an impressive 12-2-4 regular season record, which earned them a top 10 ranking in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A, the Lions advanced to their district tournament final against the Benjamin School on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Despite losing 1-0 to Benjamin, the Lions earned the top seed in Region 2 of the Class 2A state tournament, based on their high ranking. However, as the district tournament runner-up, they had to play their first regional game on the road, held Tuesday, Feb. 11 against the Saints from Trinity Prep in Winter Park.
The Lions defeated the Saints, 1-0. That win advanced them to a regional semifinal game at home against the Tigers from Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne. TKA prevailed, again, by the narrowest of margins, 1-0.
That win propelled them into the regional final. The opponent was a familiar one — the Benjamin School. That game was played Wednesday, Feb. 19, but the result was not available at press time.
With a win, TKA would advance to the final four of the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament. Their next game, a state semifinal, would be against either the P.K. Yonge School from Gainesville or the Episcopal School of Jacksonville on Thursday, Feb. 27 at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. The winner of that match will play in the state final on March 1. TKA’s girls soccer program is seeking its first state championship in school history.
The boys varsity soccer team from TKA also had a successful and memorable regular season and postseason. Despite losing to the Benjamin School, 4-3, in its district tournament final on Wednesday, Jan. 29, the TKA boys earned a bid into the regional tournament, as the fourth seed in Region 2. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, TKA hosted the Foundation Academy from Winter Garden in the regional quarterfinal, winning 5-1. Three days later, on Friday, Feb. 14, TKA traveled to Melbourne to play top-seeded Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. The TKA boys had a solid effort, but Holy Trinity played better to prevail, 3-1. The boys finished their season with an 11-5-2 record.
Berean Christian School — At Berean Christian School, playing regional soccer games is no longer the goal of the girls and boys soccer teams. Instead, it’s the annual expectation. This season, both varsity soccer teams captured their respective Class 1A, District 13 tournament titles.
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Berean girls defeated Glades Day School, 3-0, to earn an automatic bid into the regionals as district champions. As fate would have it, the Berean girls hosted Glades Day School, again, in its regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Katharina Jochem scored a hat trick, and the Bulldogs won, 7-0.
As the third seed in the Class 2A state tournament, the Bulldogs traveled to Miami to play the second-seeded Warriors from Westwood Christian School. Westwood took the early lead and led 1-0 at halftime. Late in the second half, Berean equalized with a goal from Samantha Roman. The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 after 80 minutes of regulation play. After 20 more minutes of overtime, comprised of two 10-minute halves, the game remained tied 1-1 and had to be decided by penalty kicks. Each team was given five penalty kicks.
After five penalty kicks each, both teams were tied 2-2. Westwood successfully converted its sixth PK, while Berean missed its sixth PK, which allowed Westwood to move forward to the regional final, while the Berean girls returned home with a record of 15-5-2 on the season. Expect Berean to be strong again next year, as the team only graduates three seniors — striker Sarah Wells, goalkeeper Emma Mclea and defender Jordyn Powell.
The boys varsity soccer team from Berean had a similar season to the girls. The Bulldogs captured their fourth successive Class 2A, District 13 title by defeating Atlantic Christian Academy, 2-0, on Thursday, Jan. 30. That earned them the third seed in the Class 1A boys state soccer tournament. In the first round, Berean hosted Miami Christian School in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Bulldogs won, 1-0, by virtue of a penalty kick by Jacob Linnell. That win propelled the Bulldogs to a regional semifinal clash against second-seeded Sports Leadership & Management (SLAM) from North Miami Beach. The Bulldogs faced a stronger team and were outscored, 5-0, which brought their season to an end with a final record of 15-5-1.
Wellington & Seminole Ridge — Two other local girls varsity soccer teams reached the postseason. They were the squads from Wellington High School and Seminole Ridge High School. Both had strong regular seasons, and both won their respective district tournaments.
The Wolverines won the Class 7A, District 13 tournament. Wellington was seeded second in Region 4 and was expected to eventually play Weston’s Cypress Bay High School in the regional final on Wednesday, Feb. 12. In the regional quarterfinal round on Tuesday, Feb. 4, Wellington had an impressive 8-1 win over Coral Reef High School. In the regional semifinals on Friday, Feb. 7, Wellington hosted third-seeded Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School from Parkland. In that game, Wellington was unable to notch a goal and fell, 2-0. Wellington ended the season with a final record of 14-3.
Seminole Ridge suffered a similar fate. The Hawks reigned supreme in the Class 6A, District 13 tournament. They were seeded third in the Class 6A tournament. In the regional quarterfinals, Seminole Ridge hosted Hollywood’s South Broward High School and won, 2-1. In the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 7, Seminole Ridge traveled south to play second-seeded Cooper City High School. That game was well-contested, close and competitive. At halftime, the score was tied 1-1. In the second half, Cooper City scored three goals while the Hawks notched two. Cooper City won, 4-3, leaving Seminole Ridge’s final record at 15-5-2.
