New schools to play for title

from times-union

Ponte Vedra and Creekside have their respective girls soccer programs off to promising starts. Tonight, one of them will walk away with the District 5-4A title in its inaugural season.

Both teams secured spots in the district championship game with semifinal victories Thursday night at Menendez. Creekside (19-3-2) ousted Menendez 3-2 in overtime, and Ponte Vedra (19-3-4) defeated Palm Coast Matanzas 5-0.

"That's pretty crazy. Two first-year schools are in the championship game," Creekside coach Joe Lay said.

Monica Resto and Lexi Bochino ensured that would be the case a minute-and-a-half into overtime. Resto took a shot on a breakaway that deflected off keeper Kayla Hanel, and Bochino was there to finish the golden goal. Resto scored the Knights' first goal of the match, and Alexis Dorsey added Creekside's other score in regulation.

Alexis Zitsman scored both of the Falcons' goals on assists from Lauren Hopfensperger, including the tying goal with less than six minutes to play to force overtime.

Sophomore Jackie Hellett started Ponte Vedra's scoring binge in the 11th minute of the first semifinal match, ripping a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.

Sharks junior Ashley Nicol added two scores, bending in a free kick from 30 yards out in the first half and rocketing another free kick into the upper left corner from 25 yards in the second half.

"She's been in a bad slump, hitting them over every time, but those were perfect," Sharks coach David Silverberg said of Nicol's free kick scores. "The goalie can't stop those."

Junior Jessica Stephens and sophomore Shannon Fritz padded the Sharks' lead with one second-half goal each.

The district semifinal victories also ensure both Creekside and Ponte Vedra a berth in the regional playoffs, which begin next Thursday. The winner of tonight's district championship, which will be played at 7 p.m. at Menendez, earns home-field advantage for the first round of regionals.

Class 2A: St. Johns Country Day blanked visiting Providence 5-0 with goals from five players to win the District 3-2A title and secure home-field advantage for next Thursday's regional quarterfinals.

Kaili Torres, Carson Pickett, Annie Bobbitt, Mallory Bane and Ellen Crist contributed one goal each for the Spartans (18-2-2), who will play host to St. Joseph, while Providence (8-9-5) travels to Gainesville to play St. Francis, which shut out visiting St. Joseph 6-0 for the District 4-2A title.