St. Johns girls soccer roundup: 'Perfect' Bartram Trail shot sinks Creekside in OT
Ali Fletcher had run and run for 99 minutes, but when the road to goal opened up, she found just enough energy left in the tank to write her name in Bartram Trail history.
"I just felt it after I shot it," she said. "I could feel like it was perfect."
The Bartram Trail midfielder launched a blast to remember moments from the end of the second extra-time period, defeating formerly-unbeaten Creekside 2-1 to win the Florida High School Athletic Association District 1-7A girls soccer final at Tocoi Creek.
Moments after Bears goalkeeper Lily Holden had stopped a shot at the other end, Fletcher advanced up the right wing and lashed a 25-yard shot into the roof of the net.
That capped the latest classic in the Battle of Longleaf Pine, matching the last four FHSAA champions at the class (Bartram Trail in 2020, 2021 and 2023, and Creekside in 2022).
"They just didn't quit," Bartram Trail coach Jen Rodriguez said.
Creekside (11-1-2), playing without injured UCLA-committed midfielder Avery Robinson, broke through in the 61st minute when Chloe Iliff slalomed through two Bears and delivered a cross for Samantha Colvin to finish.
But Bartram Trail (14-4-1) struck back with four minutes to go after a turnover, when Macey Millard crossed from the right and Brooke Gosse buried a bullet header into the net.
The St. Johns County rivals, who tied 0-0 in November, might meet yet again in the Class 7A regionals in a week and a half. Creekside, Bartram Trail and unbeaten Lake Mary entered the week ranked first through third in the FHSAA ranking formula used to determine seeding.
"They want to be equal to [prior Bartram Trail teams], if not better," Rodriguez said. "They have the same goals."
DISTRICT 3-6A
Junior forward Quinlee Irwin found the net twice, keeper Audrey Johnson nailed down a shutout and nationally-ranked Ponte Vedra won 3-0 against Battle of the Bridge rival Nease (11-3-3) in Wednesday's district final at Fletcher.
Ranked fifth nationwide by the United Soccer Coaches, Ponte Vedra (17-1-1) is expected to receive the FHSAA's No. 1 overall seed entering the regional tournament.
DISTRICT 3-5A
Peyton Thomas struck a hat trick and Beachside wrapped up its first-ever district girls soccer championship on Wednesday night, rolling 8-0 past Orange Park (14-2).
Parker Smith, Marissa Silva, Ayla Kiziltas, Bella Duenas and Ashlyn Heck also scored for the Barracudas (10-5-2).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Johns County girls soccer: 2023-24 high school district results
