Land O'Lakes shuts out Lake Wales in 5A-2 final

LAKE WALES — Lake Wales' season came to an end Tuesday as Land O' Lakes put together a dominating effort in its 5-0 victory over the Highlanders on Friday night in the Class 5A, Region 3 girls soccer regionals at Legion Field.

It was the second year in a row that Land O'Lakes defeated Lake Wales in the regional finals.

"This was a crazy season," Lake Wales coach Michael Flood said. "We had injuries and some of our best players were missing at various times. It would have been so easy for our players to give up, but they didn't quit. If you had told me during those times that we were going to win the district and go to regionals, I would have doubted it. We got here because everyone fought through the adversity and that is all I can ask from them. This is not how we wanted it to end. But we did what we could do, and I am proud of our girls. They have no reason to walk out of here tonight with their heads hanging low."

The game marked the end of the high school careers of Lake Wales standouts Chanley Pfingston, Alicia Kralik and Brooke Dykes. The Highlanders will build next season's squad around freshman Lily Borders and sophomore Bailey Dykes, who with Pfingston injured most of the year, emerged as Lake Wales' top two scorers. Goalkeepers Danielle Garrison and Lauren Chaney also will return.

Against Lake Wales on Tuesday, Teresa Rodriguez' two goals led the Gators (18-3- 1) while Jordan Green added a goal and an assist. The Gators who controlled the ball throughout the contest, collecting 14 shots-on-goal to only five for the Highlanders (11-7-1).

It took just seven minutes into the game before Green dribbled skillfully on the left sideline and centered her pass to Jordyn Keene for the game's first goal. Green was then on the receiving end of a centering pass from Emily Wild that she redirected the ball into the net for a 2-0 late in the first half.

Lake Wales remained in the match for the first 10 minutes of the second half before lf the Gators put the game away when Wesley Craven's deep shot from behind the box found the net for the Gators' third goal.

Rodriguez was fouled inside the box and scored on a penalty kick with 14:11 remaining for a 4-0 lead. 

Less than two minutes later she again scored when she alertly scored on a rebound shot for the game's final goal.