The Chaminade-Madonna girls’ soccer team continued its surprising run Tuesday afternoon.

Sparked by two first-half goals by Dillon Villella, the host Lions defeated North Broward 3-0 in a regional quarterfinal game at Vince Zappone Field.

For the first time in school history, they will advance to the regional semifinals Friday night.

Following the game, third-year coach Brooke Pinney gathered her girls to put the win into perspective.

“I just told them how proud we are of the things they’ve accomplished this season and how much this means for us as a team, as a program, for the school and for our girls’ sports,” Pinney said. “It’s huge.”

The Lions (14-3-1) captured their first district title last week after beating Cardinal Gibbons 1-0 on sophomore Bridget Callahan’s goal. Until Tuesday, they had previously made it to regional play in 2006 and 2011, but as district runner-ups.

Villella’s first score Tuesday came in the 17th minute on a rebound from sophomore midfielder Melissa Carrascal’s free kick just outside the box. She extended the lead four minutes later after chasing a deflected shot off the goalkeeper.

“I haven’t really been happy with my finishing, so I was just really excited that I put some away,” said the junior midfielder, who has 14 goals this season. “I just told myself this game — and [Tuesday] — that I wasn’t going to let another opportunity go. This was my time, and we had to do what we had to do.”

Freshman forward Jacqui Koebel added an insurance goal in the 69th minute on a one-timer from Villella in front of the net. Senior goalkeeper Melissa Stokesberry recorded her seventh shutout after making 22 saves.

Two weeks ago in the regular season, the Eagles beat the Lions 3-0.

Since then, Pinney has watched the players become more confident and put in even more work during practice.

“We’ve just improved,” Stokesberry said. “We do what we’re told, just fix what we see that we’re doing wrong and there’s so complaints after that.”

Awaiting the Lions will be the nation’s 23rd-ranked team, according to the Powerade Fab 50 girls’ soccer winter poll, defending Class 2A state champion American Heritage School of Boca/Delray. The Stallions won 5-0 against North Broward in early January.

Stokesberry, who called her team’s winning ways incredible, hopes they don’t stop now. Pinney wants to ensure that her players aren’t intimidated, and instead view the next team as just another opponent — but one with an established reputation.

“It’s a move for us to get our name out there for people to know who we are,” Pinney said. “We have a great school, this is a great team and group of girls, and it’s something that you don’t normally think of Chaminade-Madonna in terms of sports. They wanted to make their mark this year, and they did.”

Christina De Nicola

Region 3-5A quarterfinal — Douglas 5, South Plantation 0: Douglas’ leading goal scorer Bailey Leal had a hat trick while former defender Dominique Cole established herself as a bona fide attacker with three assists as the Eagles cruised to a victory over visiting South Plantation.