St. Johns Country Day School's girls soccer opened their defense of last year's Class 1A state title with a quick and furious 8-0 region opener win over an undermatched St. John Paul II squad Monday …
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St. Johns Country Day School's girls soccer opened their defense of last year's Class 1A state title with a quick and furious 8-0 region opener win over an undermatched St. John Paul II squad Monday night at St. Johns Country Day School.
"We needed to get this one out of the way quickly because this team sometimes plays to the level of their opponent," said St. Johns coach Mike Pickett. "We wanted to come out and get done quick. It's awful cold."
With the Lady Spartans looking to repeat their state title and knowing that last year had no goals scored upon playoff finish, Pickett was happy with his defense for the entire season.
"This is one of the best defensive units I've had here," Pickett said. "We gave up just 11 goals for the year with teams like Ponte Vedra, Niceville and Bartram Trail some of the teams that have scored on us."
St. Johns was up 5-0 with six minutes to the first half break when Pickett put in his two main scoring threats—Victoria Sarka and Calli Berrang—with Sarka head balling a corner kick in for the eighth goal to secure the half time stop of play. Sarka had a three goal night with Alana Mantello scoring twice and defender Annabelle Ernst striking the sixth goal.
St. Johns, now 13-3-3, was to play the winner of Rocky Bayou vs. Christ's Church Academy on Feb. 9 in the region semifinal. Mount Dora Christian got the win over Academy of the Lakes to be in the opposite semifinal awaiting the winner of St. Joseph Academy vs. Oak Hall.
