Stanton Girls Soccer Heading to Regional Championship Game
By FABRIZIO GOWDY | Feb. 15, 2020 | Sports
The Stanton College Preparatory School Blue Devils varsity girls soccer team defeated the Mosley High School Dolphins 3-1 at home Friday night in the 5A regional semifinals.
“It took us a few minutes to get settled in the first half,” said Stanton head Coach Brian Heggood.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
The Blue Devils initially struggled to get any kind of offensive rhythm and committed several first half fouls. The Stanton offense got going in the 21st minute, when senior defensive back Camille Prosswimmer put the Blue Devils on the board with a free kick from 25 yards out that bounced off the crossbar and into the net.
Following Prosswimmer's goal, the Blue Devils dominated in time of possession and shots. Senior strikers Madelyn Debski and Imani Asman each nearly extended the Blue Devil's lead late in the first half, but Mosley senior keeper Emily Norrel's six first half saves helped keep the halftime lead at 1-0.
“In the middle 40 minutes, we really were able to control the tempo of the game and we had a lot of chances,” said Coach Heggood.
Stanton looked poised to jump out to a comfortable 2-0 lead early in the second half after a Dolphins foul in the box set up a Blue Devil penalty kick in the 52nd minute. Norrel saved Prosswimmer's shot and blocked an attempted putback attempt seconds later.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
Less than three minutes later, Stanton found the back of the net. Ashman possessed a throw in from senior striker Leena Vashi in the box, and after initially being stuffed by a pair of Dolphin defenders, scored a 55th minute goal.
Senior striker Kirsten Norton added another Stanton goal almost immediately. Debski played a nice ball to Norton, whose 56th minute goal found the bottom left corner of the net.
“I was pretty pleased overall. We held out against a couple of their big time players. They got one nice free kick toward the end, [we] can’t do much about that,” said Coach Heggood.
Mosley finally got on the board in the 68th minute, when Dolphins captain and senior midfielder Mary Whitlock scored on a free kick straight on from 20 yards out. Her goal cut the deficit to two, but it was too little too late for Mosley, as Stanton's defense held on for the 3-1 win.
"I’m super excited to play Tuesday. It’s only the third time this team has made it to the regional finals, so we’re going to try to take advantage of it best we can," said Coach Heggood.
The Blue Devils advance to the semifinals, while the Dolphins are eliminated from the postseason. Stanton will play at Ponte Vedra High School, who defeated Gulf Breeze High School in penalty kicks in the other semifinals, on Feb. 18.