MELBOURNE — Berkeley Prep lacked the finishing touches Wednesday night to advance and play for a state championship.
The Buccaneers fell behind in the first half and could never muster enough offense to break through against Delray Beach American Heritage, falling to the Stallions 3-0 in a Class 2A state semifinal at Eastern Florida State College.
Berkeley Prep (19-9-2) challenged early in both halves, playing balls into the box in front of American Heritage goalkeeper Courtney Tompkins, but the Palm Beach County school stopped the Buccaneers each time on the sizable college field.
"I think we were a little bit affected by the size of the field," Berkeley Prep coach Ken Roberts said. "There was almost too much space for us. But we did not get the finishing opportunities we looked for, and then they broke through on the back side."
The sterling play of Berkeley Prep goalkeeper Valentina Estrada kept the game tight throughout. With the scored 2-0 in the 67th minute, the Bucs earned a corner kick by Ellie Laxer.
The sophomore midfielder's kick was headed by Camryn Hak, but the sophomore forward's shot veered just right of the right post.
"Really, Tina kept us in it. She gave us a chance to get back in it. That corner in the second half might've made a difference to get it to 2-1, but that's a good side (over there). They're solid all around," Roberts said.
Roberts said the experience his younger players received at state was "invaluable" and added, "Many of these seniors have been together since eighth grade. They came in after a team that had lost in the final."
"These girls have grown together and worked for this," he said. "And the combination of young players in our nucleus gives us a chance to get back.'
American Heritage (17-3-3) received impressive individual efforts on goals by Allison Breed and Tara Pak for a 2-0 first-half lead.
Breed made a hard run down the right side, beat a defender and blasted a shot into the left corner past a diving Estrada in the 14th minute. Pak was able to weave her way past a sprawling Estrada, go near the goal line, come back out and flip in a shot in the 33rd minute.
Asia Lee-Fatt added a goal in the 73rd minute for the final margin for American Heritage, which faces Jacksonville Bolles in today's title game.