Bishop Moore, Montverde repeat as FHSAA girls soccer state champions
AUBURNDALE — Bishop Moore scored twice inside the opening minute of the second half Saturday afternoon while claiming its third consecutive FHSAA Class 4A girls soccer state championship.
The Hornets (15-6-2) were relentless in the attacking third much of the way during a 4-0 win vs. Tampa Academy of the Holy Names (13-5-1) at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale.
Clair McEniry bounced a shot off an opposing player that went into the back of the net. Raelin Miller promptly extended the lead with a goal moments later from the right side of the box.
“Once we got a goal we didn’t want to let down because we knew they could come back instantly,” Miller said. “There was a sense that [we could win] if we kept pushing.”
Sienna Rivera and Miller bounced shots off the goal frame five minutes apart late in the first half. Those were among several near-misses on the day for the Hornets.
Miller’s twin sister, Amelia Miller, added a pair of goals over the final 11 minutes.
Bishop Moore’s third state title appeared much harder to attain compared to the 2022 and ‘23 teams that finished with a combined 38-5-5 record.
“Just getting here again and going against American Heritage for the third time in a row [in the state semis] was a challenge,” Hornets coach Amy Geltz said. “We just focused on one game at a time and learning from our previous games.”
The Hornets, who outscored opposing teams 38-3 in seven playoff games, defeated American Heritage 2-1 on Thursday in a rematch of state-title finals the past two years.
Montverde wins
One goal was all Montverde Academy (18-4-1) needed Saturday morning to repeat as 3A girls soccer state champion.
Senior striker Estafania Gonzalez finished with her left foot while in front of the goal box on a cross from the right side by Lola Ressler with 16 minutes to go during a 1-0 win vs. Merritt Island Edgewood (14-3-2).
Gonzalez converted on the goal after the ball bounced off the gloves of Edgewood’s diving goalkeeper.
Montverde improved to 4-0-1 vs. Edgewood since the 2016-17 season. The teams tied 2-2 on Nov. 17.
The Eagles also went back-to-back as FHSAA state champions in 2018 and ‘19 before briefly playing as an independent.
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
