from florida today

All but one of Nicole DiPerna's 24 goals this season have come from her feet or other parts of her legs.

Yet it is that one, a header from in front of the Edgewater High goal, that DiPerna was most proud of during her Thursday night offensive onslaught. That tap-in off a cross from Heather Carnegie was one of four DiPerna scored as host Melbourne breezed to a 6-0 girls soccer win against Edgewater in a Class 6A, District 6 quarterfinal played in warm, dry conditions.

"First off, it was a header," said DiPerna, a 5-foot-4 junior. "Second of all, because the pass was from my best friend."

Melbourne (19-0-1) scored three goals in each half and limited Edgewater's offense to one flurry to defeat the Eagles (15-6-3) for the second consecutive season in regional play. Last year's score was 5-0 in a regional semifinal. The Bulldogs advance to Tuesday's semifinal against the Palm Bay-Olympia winner. That game in Orlando was postponed Thursday because of weather.

Regardless, Melbourne is making a push for its second consecutive appearance in the state tournament. The Bulldogs' 2007-08 season ended in a state semifinal against eventual champ Wellington.

"I think we're playing more as a team this year," DiPerna said. "Chemistry is way better. Our passing is better. We're connecting a lot more this year."

DiPerna opened scoring in the 6th minute off a goal-mouth scramble. Sophomore Melissa Madden and DiPerna ended all drama with additional goals by time the game was 17 minutes old. DiPerna scored twice in the second half, the final on a 20-yard, right-footed rip, and Kristin Grubka added the other goal. Melbourne also hit two crossbars and outshot the Eagles, 33-2.

"From a high school standpoint, I'd say they play high school soccer like a club team," Edgewater coach Jason Mann said. "They use a lot of width. It's nice to see. There are not a whole lot of weaknesses."

Melbourne has just two seniors, but ample experience, on its roster. The Bulldogs even played without freshman star Rachel Price, who was practicing with a national U-17 team.

"We're not as young as last year," Melbourne coach Rosanna Lord said. "We're doing more."