Lakewood Ranch girls soccer advances to state semifinals

Regulation wasn't enough time. Neither were two overtime periods.

After eight rounds of penalty kicks, the victor still hadn't been determined. The score remained locked at four goals apiece as the game approached its third hour.

The tie broke at last in the ninth round — four deep into sudden death — as the Mustangs stampeded from the bench and onto the turf.

In a contest that went the distance and then some, No. 1 seed Lakewood Ranch girls soccer (16-2-3) knocked out No. 3 seed East Lake (15-6-1) on Feb. 17 in the FHSAA Class 6A-Region 3 final at Lakewood Ranch High School.

Junior forward Reagan Sturgeon found nylon with her shot in the fourth round of sudden-death penalty kicks, but to spare her team any more suspense, junior goalkeeper Avary Shirley needed to make the subsequent save.

She did. As a result, the Mustangs are back-to-back regional champions and on their way to the state semifinals — again.

"It was crazy. I'm still shaking from it," Shirley said. "Knowing that all the hard work has paid off just for this moment is insane."

East Lake was in position to eliminate Lakewood Ranch in the fifth and final round of the first series of penalty kicks, but Shirley staved off the shot to force sudden death.

At one point, overtime wasn't even in the conversation. It had been a lopsided contest.

The Mustangs roared to a 3-0 lead and were up 4-2 midway through the second half. A pair of Eagles goals, though, extinguished that advantage.

Lakewood Ranch got two goals from senior forward/defender Rheanne Fleming, as well as one score each from senior striker Aubrey Mau and freshman midfielder/forward Alyssa Pistone.

But when it came down to the end, Sturgeon and Shirley were the difference.

"We have prepared literally all season for this," said coach Cole Richardson. "We were ready."

At 1 p.m. Feb. 23, Lakewood Ranch will face Niceville (18-1-1) at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand with a spot in the 6A state championship up for grabs.