Two Quick Goals Propels Douglas Past Miami Springs

The Douglas girls' soccer team is going back to the state championship game.

The Eagles scored a pair of goals in the first 1 minute and 33 seconds of their Class 6A state semifinal Wednesday afternoon to beat Miami Springs 2-0 at Pepin-Rood Stadium at the University of Tampa.

Jen Nardone scored the first goal 50 seconds into the match, and Kelsey Allthin scored on a header 43 seconds later to lead Douglas (21-3-2) to its sixth state championship game appearance in the past seven seasons.

Goalkeeper Kelsey Wys made the lead stick by posting her 22nd shutout of the season -- a state single-season record.

The Eagles, who won five consecutive state titles before losing in the regional quarterfinals last year, will play either Oviedo or Melbourne in the final Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

The Golden Hawks (24-1-2), making their second consecutive state final four appearance, suffered their first loss of the season.

"You can't give up 2 goals in the first 2 minutes and win. We are in the final four and you can't recover from that. we are playing one of the best four teams in the state."  Miami Springs coach William Drew said. "Our game plan was to do to them what they did to us."

photos from the game