Soccer: State Cup update
By: Play Brevard Staff
PALM BAY -- “Hey, Lynne,” someone called to Lynne Mills as her Space Coast United Under-15 girls’ soccer team left the pitch Sunday at Palm Bay Regional Park. ”Happy Mother’s Day!”
Mills grinned, because her team made her a happy mom indeed, having come back from an early disadvantage to drop Ocala 3-1 in the challenge round of the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup tournament. It represents the association’s highest level of competition and leads to regional and national championship tournaments.
It will play HC United in the semifinal round May 22, with the finals to be played the following day, at the Lake Myrtle Athletic Complex in Auburndale.
Four other Brevard Youth Soccer League teams also have advanced to the final round.
Space Coast United’s U-19 women will face Dallas Texans Florida and Rockledge’s U-19 boys will play Oldsmar, having qualified earlier.
United’s U-13 boys beat Kendall 1-0 and will face Valrico. Its U-18 boys beat Florida Rush 3-1 and will play Wellington Wave in the semis.
The club’s U-13 girls narrowly lost the chance to join their elders in the finals, losing 2-1 Sunday to Florida Soccer Alliance Freedom.
“The girls played with so much heart. They really turned up the intensity when they needed to,” said Mills, whose day did not get off to an auspicious start, with her squad ranged against a side that attacked from the start, controlling the very early action.
Less than five minutes into the match, Sydney Longfellow put the ball past United goalkeeper Karlyn Prisco for the 1-0 lead.
The ball would not meet Prisco’s net again however, as the United keeper was stellar throughout the match, with four crucial saves in the first half, including a fingertip stop off what appeared to be a sure goal late in the 35th minute.
Neither did it take United long to gain superiority in the match, as Jackie Stengel was set up by Olivia Thompson in the ninth minute for the equalizer. The goal provided a bit of poetic justice, as both players bedeviled Ocala throughout the afternoon.
The score remained level until the 50th minute, when Hannah DeBose unleashed a rocket from 25 yards, past Ocala’s helpless keeper, that drew gasps from the crowd.
“It was left-footed. I saw I had an open shot and just thought I’d take it. It went in.” DeBose said.
The final goal also provided its share of excitement, Stengel providing a fine ball to the fearless Janay Campbell, who also looked dangerous throughout the match, late. Campbell outraced Ocala’s defenders and slotted perfectly.
“I’m proud of them,” Mills said. “They just play with so much heart.”
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