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January 12, 2016
12:37:13 PM
Entry #: 4189894
| Coral Reef scored in the final minute of regulation and in the second overtime to advance to District 16-5A girls’ soccer title game
Bianca Mandrini had the match-tying and winning goals for the Barracudas
Palmetto remained undefeated by beating South Dade in the other semifinal.
By Andre C. Fernandez
a1fernandez@miamiherald.com
Bianca Mandrini wasn’t going to stop until she had redeemed herself.
Even after she had by scoring the match-winning goal Monday afternoon for the Coral Reef girls’ soccer team, it took a second for her to catch her breath.
“I didn’t even know the game was over at first,” said Mandrini, a sophomore forward. “Then I saw everyone celebrating and telling me we won.”
Mandrini saved Coral Reef’s season in the closing seconds of regulation with the tying goal and later scored the golden goal in the second overtime period to lift the Barracudas to a 2-1 victory over Ferguson in a District 16-5A semifinal at Harris Field.
Coral Reef (10-4-1) advanced to the district championship game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Harris where it will play undefeated Palmetto (19-0). The Panthers dominated South Dade in the other semifinal for a 3-0 win.
The Barracudas became one of the two teams to survive the district dubbed by many as Miami-Dade County’s “district of death” and clinched a berth in the regional quarterfinals for the first time in three seasons.
Ferguson (12-4-2) was eliminated in the district semifinals for the first time since 2011.
Mandrini tallied her 15th and 16th goals of the season, assisted each time by sophomore Marissa Coppola.
“We waited until the last second to finally break through, but we gave ourselves a chance in the end,” Coral Reef coach Deano Nunez said.
The story of Monday’s game could have ended sour for Mandrini after she missed an open net on a shot earlier in the match that could have broken a scoreless tie in Coral Reef’s favor.
Ferguson took its 1-0 lead on a goal by Gaby Arellana and was seconds from winning the match. But when Coppola and Mandrini got behind the defense and Mandrini skipped a ball past keeper Savannah Ward, she and the Barracudas had their second chance.
After a stalemate in the first overtime, Mandrini struck again off a cross from Coppola in the second minute that ended the game.
Coral Reef beat Ferguson after having lost and tied the first two times the teams played. Against Palmetto, Coral Reef has lost twice. But the Barracudas, a team that starts one freshmen and six sophomores, are confident they can put together a good performance Wednesday.
? District 16-5A semifinal — Palmetto 3, South Dade 0: A year after Palmetto ousted then-unbeaten South Dade from the playoffs in this round, roles were reversed.
The victor, however, remained the same.
On the strength of a pair of goals by Ava Gruener and one early by Emily Lamas, the Panthers prevented South Dade from earning payback. Morgan Lang recorded her 12th shutout. Palmetto secured a berth in the regional round for the second consecutive year and eighth time in the past nine seasons.
MORE GIRLS’ SOCCER
? District 16-2A quarterfinals — Carrollton 2, Coral Shores 0: Alexis Diaz-Silveira goal. Sidney Sarriol goal. Sarah Bernguer assist.
? District 16-2A quarterfinals — Westminster Christian 2, St. Brendan 1: Madison Precht goal. Kelly Rico goal. Emily Battle goal.
? District 14-2A quarterfinal — Cardinal Gibbons 8, Calvary Christian 0: Mackenzie Crittenberger 2 goals, 2 assists. Grace Motta 2 goals, 2 assists. Amy Barra 2 goals, 2 assists. Maya Alicea goal. Alysa Vazquez goal. Ryleigh Brown, Sarah Arcella shutout. CG 14-1-2.
? District 15-5A opening round — Coral Park 4, Southwest 0: Maria Vega goal. Estrellita Torrest goal. Michelle Mendez 2 goals. Madeline Perez assist. Natalie Diaz shutout. CP 7-6-2.
? District 15-2A quarterfinals — MAST 2, Somerset 1: Karin Pomares goal. Stephanie Widell goal. MA 12-6.
? District 14-2A quarterfinals — St. Andrews 2, University School 1: US (6-6-5): Fernanda Furszyfer goal.
? District 14-2A quarterfinals — North Broward Prep 5, Coral Springs Charter 0: Rachel Blow 2 goals, assist. Morgan Hawes goal, assist. Morgan Sherman goal. Lexi Dubreuze goal. NBP 12-7-1.
? District 14-2A — Pine Crest 8, FAU 0: Madeline Turner 4 goals. Karlie Pollock goal, assist. Sophia Danielsen, Skylar Pollock shutout. PC 15-1-2.
BOYS’ SOCCER
? Belen 2, LaSalle 1: Frankie de la Camara 2 goals. Tavish Rice 2 assists. BEL 19-0-2.
? American Heritage Plantation 0, Gulliver 0: Jonathan Gomes shutout. Defense: Devon Northard, Alex Wallace, Joseph Vinson, Malcolm Tilokee. AHP 13-2-4.
? Gulliver 0, American Heritage Plantation 0: Gabriel Mellor shutout. GP 10-1-0.
? Ransom Everglades 5, Palmer Trinity 1: Jackson Mihm goal. Antoine Esber goal. Alex Stuart goal. Andrew Geraghty goal. Francisco Gonzalez goal. RE 16-4.
? Sagemont 1, Calvary Christian 1: CCA 1-14-1.
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