- November 23, 2024
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To celebrate its 25-year history, Flagler Palm Coast welcomed back some its past Lady Bulldogs to play an alumni game and be recognized for individual and team accomplishments Wednesday, Nov. 25, at FPC.
“I was asked to do something like this on previous anniversaries, but I never wanted to do it,” said coach Peter Hald, who began the program. “When Chelsea Barney and Cat Bradley came to me about this, I thought it was a good idea, but I had no idea it would be as big as it is.”
It was a night down memory lane to remember some of the best players and to recognize distinct players. The girls’ soccer first team and class were honored. Skyler Meekins, a 2008 graduate, was remembered with an extended moment of silence. Assistant coach Cat Bradley was recognized as the “Ultimate Warrior” for demonstrating tremendous courage and determination during her liver transplant stretch. Also, FPC honored the only mother-daughter tandem, Dina Lopez DeMartino (1992) and Victoria Martins (2013).
Along with those, special acknowledgment was given to “soccer sisters. Just on the night of the anniversary, 10 sets of sisters stood together, from various classes.
Then, the game began.
The earlier graduating classes took the field first in the green-white game, and the ladies quickly drew a lot of “Oohs and ahhs” as they showed they still had it. Although the game might have been an exhibition, it didn’t lack physical play, heady goal keeper diving saves and a desire to win.
Tiffany Brown (’08) put the first ball in the net for a score in the 14th minute for green, and, just four minutes into the second half, Kate Fassnacht-Romberger (’97) scored to tie the game for the white team.
With under five minutes remaining in the game, Morgan Weinberg scored the game-winning goal for green. Green’s goal keeper, Haley Lademann, made an acrobatic save against her sister’s Casey Lademann’s shot attempt with a minute to go.
“The amount of people who came back and flew in just for Coach Hald was truly amazing,” Bradley said. “Some of the biggest names to ever play in the area were here, and it’s even cooler to think about all of these ladies who have gone off and become incredible people.”
At the conclusion of the game, the Lady Bulldogs, their families and friends all embraced on the field for the “one night only” memory.
"It was such an amazing night for all of us," Hald said. "I'm glad I decided to do this. The girls actually surprised me; they showed a lot of skills. But, they all mean a lot to me, and I'm glad I was able to influence them in some way."
