For the second time in two weeks, Chaminade-Madonna’s girls’ soccer team found itself in a high-scoring duel with North Broward Prep.
And for the second time, the same quartet of Lions led them to victory.
Bridget Callahan, Melissa Carrascal and Jacqui Koebel each scored goals and freshman Savannah Santos made eight crucial saves to lead Chaminade to a 3-2 win over North Broward Prep in a Region 4-2A quarterfinal Wednesday at Vince Zappone Field.
The trio of goal scorers also had goals in the Lions’ 4-3 win over the visiting Eagles in a regular-season win Jan. 9.
But this victory propelled Chaminade to the regional semifinals for the second consecutive season.
“Every time we play North Broward Prep, it’s that type of game and that’s a credit to the type of players and coaches they have,” Chaminade coach Pablo Gentile said. “We’re really happy to get through this one healthy.”
Chaminade (17-3-2), which had not won a regional playoff match prior to last season, will take on undefeated American Heritage-Delray (21-0-1), a three-time defending Class 2A state champion.
The Stallions beat Cardinal Gibbons in another quarterfinal Wednesday.
“We’re playing the best team in the state and we know them well,” Gentile said. “Our girls have heart and won’t back down.”
Callahan helped Chaminade erase a 1-0 deficit when she lobbed a free kick into the upper corner of the goal with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. It was Callahan’s 28th goal of the season.
Chaminade opened the second half by scoring two goals in the first 8 1/2 minutes. Koebel body blocked a clearance attempt by North Broward Prep goalkeeper Rachel Durrett, controlled it on the bounce and fired a shot on target to give the Lions the lead for good in the 44th minute.
With 31:26 left, Carrascal fired a free kick at Durrett, which she juggled and didn’t control until the ball was past the goal line resulting in Chaminade’s third score.
Emma Dineen cut the deficit to 3-2 for the Eagles with 25:53 left.
But Santos didn’t let North Broward Prep tie it by stopping a shot from Christine Creighton with 12 minutes left. Creighton had two more shots miss the mark wide by narrow margins in the closing minutes.
“Our goalie is big time,” Gentile said. “She’s not playing like a freshman. She gives up a goal and comes back and makes huge saves under a lot of pressure.”
• Region 4-4A quarterfinal — Miami Springs 5, South Broward 1: For the first five minutes Wednesday night, the South Broward Bulldogs dreamed big.
Playing host to favored Miami Springs in a Region 4-4A quarterfinal matchup, forward Melanie Cea stunned the Golden Hawks with a goal in the game’s fifth minute to give her team an early 1-0 lead.
But that was about it on the evening for the Bulldogs as Springs (16-5-4) dominated the rest of the way with five unanswered goals to advance to the regional semifinals, where they will take on Mater Academy at Traz Poweel in a rematch of last week’s district final.
“It was great to get the early lead but unfortunately these games are a marathon, not a sprint,” said South Broward coach Joe Giummule, whose team was coming off its second consecutive district championship after winning just three games two years ago.




















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