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Girls Soccer: LCS Advances to State Semifinals With 1-0 Win Over Tampa Prep

Wed. February 01, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. | By B.J. Pitzen

BY B.J. PITZEN | LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
LAKELAND | Lakeland Christian scored early in the first half and hung on to a 1-0 advantage over Tampa Prep (18-2-4) Tuesday at Vikings Stadium advancing to the FHSAA Class 1A state semifinals.
LCS will travel to Orange Park Friday and take on St. John’s Country Day at 7 p.m. Despite losing 6-1 earlier in the season to the Spartans, the Vikings will try to move onto the state cham­pionship.
“I know St. John’s is intimidating, but we’re going to go up there and do our best,” Lakeland Christian coach Jason Streets said to his team after the win.
Josie Koretchko netted LCS’s lone goal off of a corner kick from Ellen Sharpe with 31:03 remaining in the first half.
“It’s always good to get out to an early lead,” Koretchko said.
Streets was pleased to jump out to an early lead against Tampa Prep, especially after trailing against Geneva and First Academy in two  previous regional playoff games.
“That goal was huge,” Streets said. “The girls’ confidence was up after the way we started in the last two games.”
Despite having six more scoring attempts, the Vikings failed to convert another goal in the final 69 minutes.
Lydia Cagle registered seven saves for LCS (21-4-2).     
“My defense helped me a lot and they just kept the shots easy for me,” Cagle said. “Our team really showed up and we did what we set out to do by making it (to the final four).”
Streets, who is in his eighth season at LCS, has been to the regional final six times now and his team lost five previous games.
“The sixth time is a charm,” Streets said. “Usually it’s us crying and hanging our heads after the game. I know how they (the Terrapins) feel, and I didn’t want to rush the field but I just couldn’t help myself.”
Streets was equally impressed with the way his defense played throughout, especially in the second half.
“Our warm-up and pregame was the most focused we’ve been,” Streets said. “We played with so much heart tonight.”