Mustangs return to championship form

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Danielle Wilson knew she couldn’t let herself get ahead of the game. 

The Lakewood Ranch senior goalkeeper had to stay focused. She needed to take a step back, catch her breath and relax. 

The next 40 minutes were crucial. She was going to be under attack. 

It’s a position Wilson had been in countless times before, and in her opinion, being a shorter goalkeeper, one that she prefers. 

“I tend to like reaction saves and one-versus-one better because those aren’t up high — if I’m going to be totally honest,” Wilson said. “I tend to do better with those actually.”

Clinging to a 2-0 lead versus Manatee coming out of halftime in the Class 5A-District 8 championship Jan. 15, Wilson was prepared for whatever the Lady Hurricanes shot at her, including a header off a corner kick that ricocheted off of her shins. 

Wilson finished with six saves, three in each half, to preserve the victory and give Lakewood its 12th district championship — all of which have come under coach Guy Virgilio, the only coach in the program’s history. 

As the district champion, Lakewood will play host to Tampa Wharton in a Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. Jan. 21. It’ll be the Lady Mustangs 15th consecutive regional tournament appearance. 

The winner will advance to the regional semifinals Jan. 26 to face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Manatee and Palm Harbor University. 

“Sometimes it makes it very simple when you have a great group of girls like we do,” Virgilio said. “I tried to explain to them what we have and somehow they go out there and get it done. I’m very proud of them, and you can’t ask for a better group. Every year I keep saying the same thing, but they really get along and they do a great job.”

This year’s district title was particularly special for Wilson, who backed up Alex Latham, now at Northwestern State, her first two seasons on varsity before the Lady Mustangs fell to Venice in last year’s district final. 

“This is really special because I got to play the whole game and it was really great,” Wilson said. “Last year was a little rough, so this year was a lot better.” 

Lakewood scored both of its goals in the first half. Maddison Krstec scored off an assist from Faith Schyck in the eighth minute to give the Lady Mustangs the early lead. Roughly 10 minutes later, Conli Schwartz found the back of the net off Caitlyn Klein’s assist. 

At that point, it was up to Wilson and Lakewood’s defense, led by center backs Julia Ortiz and Nicole Wurster. 

“Two-zero is one of those scary scores where they can come back at any second with two goals,” Wilson said. “You can’t let it get into your head otherwise you get stiff and you don’t make the saves that you can.” 

“Sometimes they communicate by just looking at each other,” Virgilio said. “That’s the great thing about the defense. They’re able to communicate and they just know what they’re supposed to be doing. And they just go out there and do it. … If one of them goes to the ball, the other one drops.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].