Former St. Johns Country Day School soccer ace Lauryn Mateo, now a forward for the Asheville City Blues in the United Soccer League (USL), garnered her first goal with a penalty kick that was the game decider in a dramatic overtime 4-3 USL W League Southern Conference championship victory on Sunday against FC Miami City.

"It was so much fun and exciting to be able to step up for the team," said Mateo, via phone on Monday. "I've never had a game-winner from a penalty kick because I have a career full of head balls that have won games. That was my first penalty kick that became the game-winner."

Against Miami City, both teams volleyed nearly 20 shots on goal and both teams had great goaltending. Regulation ended at 0-0 and two 15-minute overtimes ended scoreless to set up the dramatic finish.

Mateo entered the lineup as the third kicker for Asheville City and broke a 2-2 tie with her lower left corner ground ball shot that gave the Blues a 3-2 victory.

From there, Asheville City needed a bit of luck and drama before celebrating as Miami City's final kick got a second attempt when goalie moved off the goal line early. The repeat of the kick proved more dramatic, but the kick went wide right for the Blues win.

Asheville City (8-1-1) will advance to the USL National Semifinals on July 11 in Burlington, VT, against Vermont Green (6-4-0), a 2-0 winner over Eagle FC in the Eastern Conference championship game.

In the opposite semifinal bracket, Salmon Bay FC (9-2-1) will host Minnesota Aurora FC (12-0-0) in Seattle, also on July 11. Salmon Bay won a 3-0 match over CAPO FC to advance, with Minnesota beating the Pittsburgh Riveters FC, 2-1, to advance. The USL championship match will be July 18.

Mateo, who will complete her senior season at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach as a multiple time scoring leader, and also a multiple time Sunshine State Conference and NCAA Division II acclaimed player. She has been in Asheville City during the summer to stay sharp for her final collegiate season.

"I was looking for a summer soccer league to play in to get ready for my senior season in college," said Mateo, 21. "Playoffs start in July and depending on how far we go will determine when I go back to Florida. The final is scheduled for July 19."

The Asheville City FC is part of the United Soccer League, the largest professional soccer organization in North America, based in Tampa.

At Embry Riddle, Mateo was a Coaches (USC) All-South Region First Team selection, along with two other Embry-Riddle teammates, plus a NCAA Division II CCA All-Region selection. Mateo earned a first team selection last year, and she was a second team selection her freshman season. Mateo made school history as a three-time select for the USA All-Region teams.

The Orange Park native led the Eagles in every major attacking category, finishing with six goals, three assists, 15 points, 44 shots, 20 shots on goal and three game-winning goals. Her nine career game-winning goals ranks 10th in program history, and she is ranked in the top five of the conference for game-winning goals (second), shots (fourth), goals and points (tied for fifth) this season.

At St. Johns, under now-departed coach Mike Pickett, Mateo, a 2023 graduate, earned four state titles and one state runner-up finish, with multiple post season player of year awards in Class 2A, including the FHSAA Class 2A Player of Year, the Dairy Farmer's Miss Florida Player of Year and the Gatorade Florida 2A Player of the Year.

"Once I got to Asheville City, it took a few games to get my rhythm with the outstanding players here," Mateo said. "I feel great that they have confidence in me to set up head balls in front of the goal. I'm having a blast."

In her start with Asheville, Mateo clocked in for five quick goals with a Player of the Match honors after a three-goal hat trick in a 4-0 win over the Chattanooga Red Wolves. She then got a final regular season win with two goals against Birmingham Legion to secure a second consecutive USL W League South Central Division title, and the team's second consecutive playoff berth in the USL W League playoffs.

Asheville City defeated Lonestar FC Austin out of Texas 3-0 on July 3 to play in their second consecutive USL W League Conference championship game with FC Miami City traveling to Asheville City, NC.

In the Lonestar game, Mateo did not score but still is among the team's scoring leaders with seven goals, including the hat trick for the Wicked Pie Player of the Match.

Against Birmingham, the Blues got off to a quick start in the eighth minute when Phoebe Hollin ripped a long-range strike that was saved, but it produced an opportunist rebound that landed on the goal line. Mateo pounced on the rebound and tapped it in to give the Blues an early 1-0 lead.

Mateo struck again six minutes into the second half to double the lead. The Blues earned a free kick on the left flank, which Juli Viera stepped up to take. Viera took a kick that caught the Legion backline off-guard, and she aimed it at the near post, where Mateo headed it home to put the Blues up 2-0.

"They have given me more and more opportunity score off headers which is what I did at St. Johns and at Embry-Riddle," Mateo said.

For her hat trick, the Blues found the opener in the 13th minute with a corner kick from forward Phoebe Hollin that found Mateo in the center of the box. She leaped above a Red Wolf defender and thumped a header past Chattanooga keeper Alo Iriarte for an early 1-0 lead.

Mateo tacked on her second goal five minutes later with a spectacular turn and finish on the edge of the box to put Asheville up 2-0.

Mateo, who was denied a fourth goal by an offside flag, would not be denied in her third goal when Lu Flores laid the ball off to her inside the box. Mateo took a touch to create space from a Chattanooga defender, and she blasted her strike to complete the hat trick that sent Asheville fans home happy with a 4-0 win.

On June 17, Mateo scored her first goal in a 5-1 win over Swarm FC of Georgia. Mateo added a second goal in the 93rd minute to complete the 5-1 win.