Lake Wales edges Auburndale to return to regional final

LAKE WALES — It can be difficult to defeat a team three times in a season, but the Lake Wales girls soccer team did just that.

The Highlanders defeated Auburndale 2-1 on Friday night in the Class 5A, Region 2 girls soccer state semifinals at Legion Field.

With the victory, Lake Wales (11-6) advanced to the regional finals for the second year in a row. The Highlanders will be at home against Land O’Lakes a5 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Land O' Lakes defeated Lake Wales in the regional final a year ago.

Senior Chanley Pfingston scored the winning goal with 16 minutes left in the first half. She went one-on-one against an Auburndale defender and knocked the ball in the left side of the net.

Short-handed Auburndale (10-7) scored the first goal just three minutes into the match as Dylan Fernandez put the Bloodhounds on the board.

Co-captains Pfingston and Alicia Kralik combined to tie the score just two minutes later. Kralik launched a corner kick in front of the goal, and Pfingston headed it in to make it 1-1.

“We just have to play our game in order to win next week,” Lake Wales coach Michael Flood said. “Last year I think the girls were just happy to be there.”

Most of the last 20 minutes of the second half was played in the Auburndale offensive end as the Bloodhounds applied constant pressure, but could not get the tying goal.

Danielle Garrison and Lauren Chaney combined in goal for Lake Wales.