Late Goal Spoils Tampa Preps Back to Back Title Hopes

In front of  a ruckus home town crowd the Terrapins were one and half minutes from advancing to their second straight championship game when American Heritage's Tatiana Penagos would net the equalizer. Penagos's goal with only 1:30 in regulation came off a rebouned shot by 8th grader Yulie Lopez. Tampa Preps score came from the only shot on goal of the night for the Terrapins. Taylor Richardson split two defenders in the middle of the box and made a great off balance shot to the far post past AHD's Samantha Perretty.

These two teams met in last years state championship match. This game was some what similar to last year as Tampa prep scored 1 in the half and American Heritage scored 1 in the second half to force the game into over time and eventually pks. But, that is were the similarities end. Last year was a pretty evenly match contest where this year the Stallions dominated most of the possession and shots on goal. Last Year the Stallions were unable to convert any of their pks and lost 3 to 0. This year American Heritage converted all for of the pk attempts and it was Tampa Prep who missed on 2 of their opportunities.

For Tampa Prep Paige Goodwin and Isabel Dalence would convert their pk attempts. Caroline Cheek would miss wide left and Colby Maffei shot was stop by the AHD keeper.

For American Heritage Tatiana Penagos, Lauren Silver, Danielle Marra, and Miranda Fyfe would put their penalty kicks into the back of the net.

Stallions head coach said after the game " Tampa Prep played well and defended exceptionally well in numbers. We controlled the game and we were the dominated team. I felt relieved when Tatiana scored. We talked at half about getting the goal back early, I just didn't think that 38 and half minutes was early."

"It was such a letdown," senior midfielder and co-captain Taylor Richardson said. "We worked our butts off the whole game and to give it away in the last minute is the worst feeling, especially losing in PKs.

American Heritage moves on the State Championship Match with St. John's Country Day who beat King's Academy 4 to 0 earlier in the day.

photos from the game