from St. Pete Times

TAMPA — It has been a long trek for Tampa Prep to return to the Class 2A final four, but getting to today's state semifinal game will be about a 10-minute walk.

And for center midfielder Taylor Richardson, a four-year starter and senior co-captain, today's pregame walk to UT's Pepin Stadium marks the opportunity she has waited for all season — a chance to end her senior year with back-to-back state titles.

"I'm so pumped to be here," Richardson said. "Last year was definitely a challenge and a surprise to a lot of us. We didn't know we were capable of pulling that out. So to go in there with the confidence and knowing you could leave senior year with another championship would be amazing."

The Terps (17-3-3), who will play Delray Beach American Heritage (20-3-2) — the team they beat in penalty kicks to win the state title last season — had to be rebuilt from last season, but Richardson has been the stabilizing force throughout.

"She's a general on the field," coach Pam Smith said. "She controls the midfield, she sets up the plays. She's an excellent vocal point on the field."

Last season, Richardson's main goal was feeding 64-goal scorer Chelsea Klotz. But with Klotz now filling the net at USF — and the departure of midfielder Connor Zwetsch, who transferred to Plant, and defender Carrie Field to graduation — the Terps began the season with holes up the middle.

But now, freshman Colby Maffei (30 goals) has become the team's top scorer, giving Richardson more freedom as a playmaker. And forward Paige Goodwin (12 goals, six assists in seven games) has returned from a knee injury to give the Terps another scoring option. Richardson is second on the team in goals (15) and assists (23), including 10 goals and six assists in her past five games.

"Everybody's getting chances now and it's a lot more evenly dispersed," Richardson said. "We've opened up all the opportunities this season and the variety has definitely given us a lot more chances."

She says this makes the Terps a tougher team to defend.

"It's definitely a lot different style," Richardson said. "They're going to have to mix it up to match us."