For the third time in the last four years, the girls soccer team from Wellington Landings Middle School reached the final of Palm Beach County’s middle school girls soccer championship.
In 2022 and 2023, Wellington Landings won the championship game of the annual postseason tournament. On Wednesday, March 19, the Gators advanced to their third championship game in the last four years. This year, their opponent was the West Boynton Middle School Stingers.
The game was played at the soccer field complex at Village Park in Wellington. This year’s game featured the two teams that have won the last three titles — West Boynton in 2024 and Wellington Landings in 2022 and 2023. While Landings played well, West Boynton played a bit better. West Boynton led 1-0 at halftime, and eventually won the match, 3-0.
West Boynton, coached by Cody Russell, finished with an overall record of 12-1-1, while Wellington Landings completed the season with a 9-2-1 record.
While the final score of the championship game was a tough way to finish the season, Landings coach Caitlin Waites was very proud of her team’s competitive attitude throughout the season.
“This season, the girls had one goal in mind: make it back to the championship game,” Waites said. “Due to unfortunate circumstances, we lost in the second round of the playoffs last year. I feel this gave my girls the fire to work as hard as they could, and they did. All 15 players contributed to every win they had. Ultimately, I am so incredibly proud of all the girls for their hard work this season.”
According to Waites, the team leaders on her squad this past spring were Sofia Davila, Elisa Kate Stroup, Zoe McCranels, Chayse Ludlam, Parker Leimberger and Leah Browne. The top scorers were Davila, Stroup and Magnolia Welsh. The assist leaders were Stroup, Davila and McCranels.
The keys to success for Wellington Landings were a prolific goal-scoring offense and a strong, defiant defense. “We had 43 total goals scored and five goals allowed all season,” said Waites, whose overall coaching record at Landings is 39-5-5. “This was only possible because of the girls working together every single game.”
As Waites looks forward to next year, some of her players will transition to high school, but she is cautiously optimistic that her new and returning players will have another memorable year on the pitch.
“Out of my 15 players, eight of them are eighth graders. Usually, six or seven would start depending on the game,” Waites said. “As far as next year, all I can say is I am looking forward to seeing what the new squad brings.”
