Heritage one step closer to fifth straight state title

PLANTATION — The bid for five straight state titles is still alive after American Heritage held on to defeat North Fort Myers 4-3 in the 4-3A girls soccer regional final on Friday night.

The Patriots, winners of 29 straight post season games dating back to 2012 when they fell to Ponte Vedra 2-1 (4-1 PKs) in the state title game, jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Red Knights made it interesting.

Sophomore Marlee Fray gave the Patriots (18-0) a 1-0 lead just 38 seconds into the match, but North Fort Myers (21-2-1) equalized it at the 10-minute mark on a goal by freshman Hailey Turner off a corner kick by freshman Emilee Hauser.

American Heritage made it 3-1 with two goals in a two-minute span on Fray’s second goal and a header by fellow sophomore Taylor Dobles. Senior Chyanne Dennis scored off a corner kick from sophomore Emma Vasquez in the 32nd minute to stretch the lead to 4-1.

North Fort Myers, which saw its 18-game unbeaten string come to an end, scored at the end of the first half off a goal by freshman Taylor Metzger to pull within 4-2. Junior Amanda DaSilvia converted a penalty kick in the 52nd minutes, but could draw no closer.

“We are up 4-1 and they should have never come back,” said Patriots coach Cindy Marcial, who team defeated North Fort Myers 3-1 in last year’s regional final in the only other meeting between the two schools. American Heritage will face the winner of the Osceola (Seminole)/ Merritt Island game in the state semifinal on Friday, Feb. 17 at Spec Martin Stadium in Deland.

“Our goalkeeper made a couple of mistakes, but we will learn from it,” Marcial said. “It is so weird with this team because sometimes they get so nervous that we can’t even play our style. It’s a win. I’m happy and we move on.”

The Patriots, who returned 22 of 24 players from last season, are looking for their 10th FHSAA title and fifth in a row.

It would tie Douglas (2003-07) for second place on the state all-time list. St. Thomas Aquinas holds the all-time consecutive streak of seven from 1993 to 1999 and lead the state with 13 state championships.