Bobcats top Sharks for district title

Pope surprises Saint Andrew’s

Published January 22nd, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Since entering District 10-6A three years ago, the Boca Raton High girls soccer team has been unable to overcome Spanish River High when it most counted.

The Sharks had beaten the Bobcats in each of the last two district finals, and last year Spanish River won all three meetings in matches that were decided by a single goal – including the district final, where the Sharks won on penalty kicks.

But Friday, the Boca Raton seniors finally captured their first District 10-6A title with a 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals in the finals.

In the end, it was a sophomore, Kelly Costopoulos, who followed Sam Major’s shot with a goal just two minutes in, and that held up.

“I just saw an open net and I said, ‘I’ve got to get this,’” Costopoulos said. “The first goal means so much.”
The second half featured a lot of physical play, and five players received yellow cards.

“To come out and score the first goal, I think it really set the tempo for the rest of the game,” Bobcats first-year coach Racheal Grimes said. “It was a very physical battle for us, but I’m really proud of our girls tonight.”

It was sweet redemption for Boca Raton’s senior class, a group headed by Major who won districts as freshmen, then waited this long to triumph again.

Boca Raton’s reward will be hosting the regional playoff match against Palm Beach Central at FAU Field at 7 p.m. Thursday.

“They definitely came in highly motivated, and we were equally up for the challenge,” Sharks coach Kevin Turner said. “It was a very, very unlucky first minute of the game. Other than that, I don’t think there was anything between these two sides.”

Pope shocks Scots

Pope John Paul upset defending Class 3A state champion Saint Andrew’s 0-0 (4-1 PKs) to capture the District 12-3A title Friday night.

Brittany D’Addio, Marisa Bennardo, Morgan Currie and Cara Horton scored on all four of the Eagles’ penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Lauren Berlingo was the Most Valuable Player with 12 saves. The Eagles (16-6-1) host Melbourne West Shore at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Saint Andrew’s (12-2-2) travels to face Melbourne Central Catholic.

West Boca, American Heritage roll

West Boca Raton routed Coconut Creek-Monarch 8-0 in the District 14-5A championship. Tatiana Coleman and Nicole Ballante each had hat tricks as the top-seeded Bulls (18-2-2) routed the second-seeded Knights (13-8-3).

The Bulls will host the District 15-5A runner-up at 7 p.m. Thursday.

No. 1 American Heritage blanked Boca Christian 10-0 in the District 13-2A final. Dee Long scored two goals to lead the top-seeded Stallions (27-0) to the rout of the third-seeded Blazers.