Miami Springs beats Lourdes to win Region 4-6A girls' soccer championship

Neither Miami Springs' nor Lourdes' coaches needed any pep talks Friday night.

In what has become the most intense girls' soccer rivalry in Miami-Dade County, there was no need for motivation.

''We're rivals, so you know we were ready,'' Miami Springs midfielder Dallas Carter said. ``We weren't going to give each other any space out there.''

In front of a packed crowd of nearly 500 fans at the University of Miami's Cobb Stadium, Miami Springs sophomore midfielder Sherrika Othello decided the outcome of the fourth consecutive Region 4-6A championship between the crosstown foes.

Othello booted the ball past Lourdes goalkeeper Carolina Garcia and into the corner of the net in the 69th minute. The Golden Hawks defense made it stick in a 3-2 victory that clinched Miami Springs' second consecutive trip to the state final four.

The Golden Hawks (24-0-2), one of only two undefeated teams remaining in South Florida, will play Parkland Douglas in a Class 6A state semifinal at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium.

Miami Springs, which has split the past four meetings with Lourdes (18-3-1) in the regional finals, eliminated the Bobcats for the second consecutive season.

On the game-winning play, junior forward Abby Carr crossed a ball toward Othello. Stephanie Abreu alertly slowed down to allow the ball to get to Othello, who then kicked it in.

''My dad always tells me to find the corner because it's usually open on a play like that,'' Othello said. ``I had been cramping up. When I scored, all that pain went away.''

Two years ago, Lourdes rallied to beat Springs in penalty kicks after trailing by one goal late. The Bobcats battled back Friday after trailing 2-0.

Junior Danielle Esnard controlled a high-bouncing ball from junior Andrea De Oña and scored in the 45th minute. Five minutes later, De Oña caught up to a loose ball and, before colliding with Miami Springs goalkeeper Jackie Gonzalez, was able to nudge it enough so it rolled into the goal to tie it the game.score.

''Lourdes fought hard, they possessed the ball a lot and got back in it,'' Miami Springs coach William Drew said. ``But our girls responded, and Sherrika came through with a major goal.''

Miami Springs will now try to end one of Dade's longest state title droughts in any sport. No Dade team has won a girls' soccer state title since 1993. The Golden Hawks, however, have had their best season since they won a state title in 1988, and embraced the pressure of being undefeated.

''It makes us believe we can't be beat,'' Othello said.

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