The visiting Oviedo Lions scored early and often in the FHSAA Class 7A Region 1 semifinals at Boone while pouring in five first-half goals Friday night during a 5-0 win.
“We were able to get a couple early goals, which really helped to give us some good momentum,” Oviedo coach Scott Waisanen said. “We knew Boone came out with a lot of energy and we had to try and match it. My girls did a good job matching energy tonight.”
Raisa Lugo, a senior forward for the Lions (15-1-1), led the way with a hat trick while scoring goals in the 13th, 27th, and 38th minutes. Lugo scored on a breakaway, a deflection from a corner kick, and on a corner kick that she took.
“That’s what you expect out of one of your senior leaders,” Waisanen said of Lugo. “She scored a couple opportunistic goals and put the team on her back tonight.”
Senior defender Kyleigh Thelen, a Stetson commit, headed home a corner kick from sophomore Ryleigh Holcomb in the 35th minute. Another goal for the Lions came by way of an own goal by Boone in the 19th minute.
The host Braves (10-3-0) found themselves down to their third-string goalkeeper early in the contest.
Regular starter Kendall Miller was out with a previously sustained injury and backup keeper Emily Scott, who started the game, exited early with an injury, leaving senior Meagan Holmes defending the net for the hosts. It would be a busy night for Holmes as Oviedo’s persistent attack kept the ball on the Boone half of the pitch for most of the evening.
Oviedo advances to a regional final for the second year in a row on Tuesday at St. Johns Bartram Trail (16-2-0) at 7 p.m.
“We’ve been working really hard throughout the season and we obviously want to get past last season,” Lugo said. “I think our mindset is just to go out there and play how we know how to play. We’re just confident in what we can do.”
Home for finals
Clermont East Ridge, Bishop Moore and The Geneva School also won regional semifinal games Friday night and will host championship matches in the next round.
Mireya Zepeda and Alanis Melgar each scored goals for East Ridge (22-1-2) during a 2-1 win over Davenport Ridge Community (15-5-1) in Class 7A Region 2. The Knights used a dominating midfield performance in the second half and big saves by goalkeepers Caleigh Fischer and Kayden Page in the win.
Fischer made a pair of saves before being blue-carded and leaving the game with 6:13 left in the first half. Page finished with four saves in relief to help East Ridge earn a region championship game at home against Tampa Pant (17-1).
Bishop Moore (16-3-1) will play at home in the Class 4A Region 3 final against Merritt Island (14-2-3) after Ryland McGratty and Victoria Pou each scored twice in a convincing semifinal win. The Hornets also got goals from Kaitlyn Clark and Amelia Miller while rolling past Titusville (11-7-2) by a 6-1 score.
The Geneva School (10-0-2) kept its unbeaten season alive with a 4-2 win against Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic in Class 2A. Geneva advances to host Tampa Cambridge Christian (16-2-0).
Lynn Ramsey contributed to this report, which originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
Girls Soccer results
Regional semifinals
Class 7A Region 1
Oviedo 5, Boone 0
Bartram Trail 1, Spruce Creek 0
Class 7A Region 2
Clermont East Ridge 2, Davenport Ridge Community 1
Tampa Plant 1, Palm Harbor University 0
Class 4A Region 3
Bishop Moore 6, Titusville 1
Merritt Island 1, Satellite 0
Class 3A Region 3
Melbourne West Shore 3, Lake Highland Prep 0
American Heritage 4, Benjamin 1
Class 2A Region 2
Geneva School 4, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 2
Cambridge Christian 4, Carrollwood Day 2
