Marina Klemetsmo hat-trick leads Boca Raton girls soccer to fifth straight district title
BOCA RATON — When Boca's Marina Klemetsmo exited the pitch with under 20 minutes to play on Wednesday, it was to an ovation.
The forward, despite coming off the bench, quickly took center stage during the Bobcats’ district championship, with her second-half hat trick helping Boca dismantle Spanish River 7-1.
“It was definitely an amazing feeling scoring three goals in like 10 minutes,” Klemetsmo said before expressing that her favorite of the goals was one that came virtually by accident, a shot in which she slipped and fell but saw the ball go in anyway.
Though that was her favorite, the sheer skill involved in her third goal had to warrant consideration: the senior midfielder flicked the ball onto herself and set up her own score.
If soccer rules ever allow for a goal and assist to be granted to the same player on the same play, perhaps Klemetsmo’s third goal in Wednesday’s game will serve as the poster child.
All three of her scores came within quick succession, symbolizing the damage Boca's goal-scorers can do, even to a defense like that of Spanish River, which had allowed fewer than one goal on average per match.
“All three were incredible individual efforts,” Boca Raton head coach Rachael Grimes said. “We have four very good wingers and forwards, and everyone has an opportunity to step up on different nights, and it was nice to see her get three goals tonight — three beautiful goals.”
Between her triple effort on goal and a brace-plus-assist from leading goal-scorer Sarah Coelho, Boca's (14-2-2) seven goals were the most scored since an 8-0 victory over Coral Glades in early December.
It’s a return to the relentless attack that Grimes and company have shown is well within their capability, and the team certainly picked the right night to let the shots fly.
Wednesday marked the program's fifth straight district championship.
It also provides energy and momentum going into regional play, where the competition gets steeper and the stakes rise.
When it comes down to it, Boca’s ability to rotate in fresh legs from a huge roster — without a significant drop in quality on the pitch — is one of its biggest advantages.
“We do have individual players that can step up in certain games,” Grimes said. “We have a lot of great players and a lot of depth, and I believe we have the ability to wear teams down. We have the luxury of a lot of players in attack.”
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The coaching staff repeatedly substituted players in the second half, giving a number of players an opportunity to see game action in the district final.
“Anybody can step up any night,” Grimes said. “And tonight was Marina’s night.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton girls soccer wins district title behind Marina Klemetsmo hat trick
