- November 5, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
MELBOURNE — Before every game, Flagler Palm Coast girls soccer coach Pete Hald gives his team a challenge.
He writes it down on a piece of paper. For most of the season, the Lady Bulldogs have accomplished what they were asked to do.
That includes last Friday, when Hald gave his team three challenges going into the Class 5A semifinals against St. Thomas Aquinas, the sixth-ranked team in the country.
Challenge No. 1 was to stop St. Thomas Aquinas leading scorer Isabella Dorosy, who came into the game with 17 goals.
Mission accomplished.
Challenge No. 2 was mostly directed to FPC keeper Leah Leach. She was tasked to shutout the Lady Raiders.
For 80 minutes, Leach did just that.
The third challenge was to score three goals on St. Thomas Aquinas. Why three?
“Because no one had scored more than two goals on them except for teams in Texas,” Hald said. “I always give my offense a challenge.”
Unfortunately, the Lady Bulldogs couldn’t find the back of the net.
And after 80 minutes with neither team scoring a goal, overtime began. Within the first minute, a ball was headed out to FPC midfielder Josie Davis, who uncorked a blistering shot on goal. (Click here for a live blog of the game against St. Thomas Aquinas.)
St. Thomas Aquinas freshman keeper Abigail Pangallo was beat, but the ball soared just inches above the crossbar. Still scoreless.
Just minutes later at the other end of the field, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Dallas Dorosy found a glimpse of daylight and slotted the golden goal past Leach.
Game over, season over for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Oh, wow,” Hald said after the game, taking a deep breath. “Well that’s not exactly what I wanted to have happen.”
FPC (15-7-4) ended its season just two wins shy of a state championship. It was the first time Hald has taken his team to the Final Four in 23 years as FPC’s coach. He knew St. Thomas Aquinas — a private school and national powerhouse in all sports each year — was going to be a tough opponent.
His team battled, though. And he expects his team to be in contention against next season. FPC will lose just three seniors: Sarah DiLoreto, Ashley Friedman and Emily Turner. Most of the team returns, though, including leading goal scorer Christen Barney, forward Tanagna Payne, midfielders Madi Hald, Bella Giuliano and Josie Davis, defenders Amanda Raleigh, Cara Warren and Kaelin Cote.
Keeper Leah Leach will return, too. She made save after save for FPC last week, including back-to-back kick saves on breakaways to send the game into overtime. Hald dubbed her the game’s MVP.
“I definitely think that we have as good a chance as anybody — if not better — because we do have a strong team coming back,” Hald said of next year’s expectations.
FPC captured its second straight district title and a regional title, but perhaps the challenge going into next year will be to make the state finals and play for a state championship.
“I definitely look forward to next year,” Hald said.
