EUSTIS - For years, Eustis' girls soccer program has been among the best, if not the best, in Lake County.

Just being the best in Lake County wasn't good enough, though. The Panthers generally were considered second-best in their district. Every year Bishop Moore would win the district championship.

But now the Panthers (18-4-1) head into Thursday night's Class 4A region quarterfinals at 7 at home against Zephyrhills (16-7-1) with a newfound shot of confidence following a 5-1 victory against Bishop Moore in the 4A-7 championship game.

Eustis, though, will not be the only Lake County team in a regional. Umatilla (11-9-2), the 3A-6 runner-up, will play at Keystone Heights (12-5) at 7 Thursday night.

"Beating Bishop Moore was one of those things that we set as a season goal," Eustis Coach Wayne Lockett said. "Now that that has happened, I think that will move us up to the next level. It boosted our confidence that we were able to accomplish something that we set out to do at the start of this season."

Goals by Tana Hardin and Alika Keene -- her first of two -- put Eustis up 2-0 before its match last week against Bishop Moore was seven minutes old.

Lauren Smith scored in the 50th minute. Keene scored again 10 minutes later, and Brooke Smith finished off the scoring in the 71st minute.

Brooke Smith, who scored eight goals and had three assists in the district tournament, leads Eustis with 30 goals and nine assists this season. Twin Lauren is second in scoring with 17 goals and nine assists.

Hardin has 16 goals and eight assists, and Keene has 14 goals and six assists despite missing eight games with an illness and a red-card suspension.

"Bishop Moore has had such a good program over the years," Lockett said. "To succeed the way we did, it puts us in the same grouping with Bishop Moore, who we have always seen as one of the better teams in Central Florida."

Zephyrhills reached the 4A regional after losing 2-1 in double overtime in the District 8 final to Hudson (21-2-1).

"They are not anybody that we can take lightly," Lockett said. We have to be ready for them."