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Palm Harbor University advances to state final on PKs

The Hurricane girls seek their first title since 2010.
 
palm harbor university
Published Feb. 16, 2019

PALM HARBOR ― After 100 minutes of soccer, in which both teams scored a goal and had some near misses, Friday night’s Class 5A state semifinal between Palm Harbor University and Lake Mary came down to the dreaded penalty kicks. The Rams won their region final on PKs, but Hurricanes goalie Cameron Laine made sure that didn’t happen again.

Laine saved the first three shots she faced while her teammates made three of four penalty kicks to seal a 2-1 (3-1 in PKs) win. The Hurricanes (17-1-1) will play Cypress Bay next Friday at 4 p.m. in DeLand. PHU is looking to win its first state title since 2010.

“I just read their feet and made some good guesses," Laine said of her saves. “I was really nervous going into it but we pulled it out."

PHU controlled the action almost from the opening whistle. In the first minute Alivia Gonzalez had a left-foot shot from 20 yards sail just over the net. But just before the first water break, Lake Mary was able to notch a goal.

Hannah Kadzban collected a loose ball in the middle of the field and slotted a pass to Maddie Lemery. She found herself free in the front of the net and scored from within 10 yards to make it 1-0.

But four minutes later, the Hurricanes got the equalizer. Mary Raymond launched a shot from 15 yards that bounced off the hands of goalkeeper Noel Miller. Lauren Kane was right there for the rebound and redirected the ball into the open net.

“That was huge," PHU coach Randy Irick said.

The score stayed tied through regulation and into two 10-minute overtimes. The best chance came in the second overtime when Gonzalez had a shot from close range saved by Miller.

In penalty kicks, Lake Mary went first and Laine saved it. Isabella Mihaj made her shot to put PHU up 1-0. Another save was followed by a Miller save of a Gonzalez shot. The third Laine save was followed by a goal from Raymond.

When Alex Shanabrook made her shot, PHU clinched it and her teammates stormed the field.

“It was definitely relief," Shanabrook said of making the shot. “I was so happy. And I was happy for Cameron, too. She did so well."

Lake Mary (13-5-1), also a district runner-up, was hoping to win its first state title since 2002.

“Penalty kicks is always difficult," Lake Mary coach Bill Eissele said. “But this was two great teams that both played hard and really battled it out.I’m pretty proud of our girls. We had some adversity and fought through it. Making it to the state final four is a good season."

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PHU fell to Oviedo in this round last season. Irick was hoping they didn’t have to work this hard for a win, but he’ll take it.

“We had our opportunities in the second half but that’s a good team," he said. “There is a reason they are here. Hopefully we are saving our goals for next week."