Kicking it up a notch: girls soccer
Girls soccer season comes to an end
Huddled around the trophy, the girls soccer team smiles for a picture after defeating Palm Harbor University 1-0 on Feb. 9. The girls won the FHSAA Girls Soccer District 7A-7 champions allowing them to advance on to regionals.
After an undefeated regular season, the girls soccer season ended at state semifinals. The team had a record of 18-2 for the season.
“This was a great season for us,” junior Olivia Zavala said. “Even though we didn’t win, we qualified for state semifinals back-to-back, and I’m really proud of us for that.”
The team fell to Bartram Trail High School in the state semifinals, ending their season. Junior Jordan Floyd said the team had high hopes for the season.
“We made it to state semifinals last year, and we had only lost one starter from last year, so I expected us to make it far again this year,” Floyd said. “I was excited for the chance to go to states again, and we made it far even though we didn’t win.”
The team, which consisted of girls from all four grades, was tight knit. Freshman Olivia Dicus said this allowed them to play as a team and work well together.
“We are all very close to each other, like sisters, and we knew that we were a great team,” Dicus said. “We had a lot of confidence and everyone was always so encouraging. This enabled us to play as a team and led us to going so far this season.”
For the 12 seniors on the team, this will be their last season with Plant.
“To me, this season meant the last time I get to play with my family and win states,” senior Elyse Iller said. “Unfortunately, we were a game short, but I couldn’t be more thankful to have been on such an amazing team. These girls will always have a place in my heart.”
Looking back on the season, sophomore Tatum Tishler says she is fond of the memories she made with the team.
“After we scored, we would all run up to each other,” Tishler said. “My favorite memory from this season is when we won in the last two minutes of overtime and all piled up on top of each other.”
The team is looking to next season and is hopeful.
“I’m really looking forward to next year because it’ll be my senior year, and hopefully we can get even further than we did this season,” Zavala said. “Our season ending just gives us more of a reason to come back next year and win the state championship.”