from Palm beach Post

BOCA RATON — The defending champs are done, and it could very well be Boca Raton's turn to take the title.

The Bobcats continued their dominant season with a 3-1 win over Wellington in the regional semifinal.

"If we keep putting good games together we could make a run," Boca Raton coach Rachel Grimes said.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead late in the first half and benefited from outstanding play from goalkeeper Caitlyn Woody. She made several acrobatic saves, including a stop on Nicolette Vocaturo's open shot from within 10 yards in the opening minutes of the second half.

Even after Wellington coach Fern Brewer moved a defender up to offense, the Wolverines (17-6-3) did not score until forward Melissa Welch's goal with 5:07 remaining. Wellington threatened to score several times in the final five minutes, but Woody denied every attempt.

"Five more minutes would have helped," Brewer said. "The momentum was going."

Boca Raton scored its first goal on a brilliant collaboration by Lauryn Hogg and Kelly Costopoulos. Hogg brought the ball down the right side of the field and crossed it to Costopoulos directly in front of the net. Costopoulos maneuvered around one defender and blasted the ball into the net from 15 yards.

Alex Major, one of the Bobcats' stars, made an early impact in her first appearance since the district tournament. Major got free in the middle of the field on a breakaway and only needed to beat Wellington goalkeeper Samantha Bandremer. Bandremer rushed out of the net, and Major made one move to dodge her before knocking in a goal to put the Bobcats up 2-0.

"I was so happy to be back out there," Major said. "I was just excited to be back out on the field helping the team."

Sophomore Linzi Martin, the hero in Boca Raton's shootout win over Palm Beach Central last week, added the third goal.

A year ago, Wellington allowed just one goal in six matches as it stormed through the playoffs for the program's first state championship.

The Bobcats, who were unable to escape the first round each of the past two seasons, advance to the regional final at Parkland-Douglas on Friday.