‘Baby Bunch’: 10 middle-school girls’ soccer players lead Doral’s high school varsity

It’s not true that coloring books are handed out at halftime of Doral Academy girls’ soccer matches.

The Firebirds aren’t that young.

But Doral’s high school varsity team does include an astonishing 10 middle-school girls who are contributing to the Firebirds’ 16-player rotation.

In fact, Doral’s leading scorer is midfielder Rachel Brown, a seventh-grader who has nine goals for an 8-3-1 squad that is ranked fourth in the state in Class 6A. Only Ponte Vedra, St. Thomas Aquinas and Lourdes are ranked ahead of Doral, according to MaxPreps.

Omar Persad, Doral’s third-year coach, said Brown has a booming shot.

“Sometimes it’s a little unsafe for goalies,” Persad said. “I’m trying to figure out what she eats for breakfast.”

Brown, the only girl on her otherwise-all-boys club team, is a 5-4, 140-pounder who might be the strongest player on the Doral squad.

Other than one penalty kick, her other eight goals have been from outside the box. Recently, Persad let her try for a goal from 35 yards on a free kick.

“At that distance, everyone else would try a crossing (pass to a teammate),” Persad said. “She kicked a beautiful shot that missed the net by just six inches.”

Doral’s “baby bunch” includes eighth-graders Ashley Rodriguez, Nicole Benetti and Natalie Jimenez. Of those three, Rodriguez has a prominent role as Doral’s backup goalie.

“I think she will be the best goalie in the state in a couple of years,” Persad said. “She’s phenomenal.”

Doral’s seventh-graders in the rotation, besides Brown, are Aaliyah Perez and Allyson Rodriguez.

The Firebirds have four sixth-graders in the rotation: Veronica Vasquez and the Bligh triplets, Chloe, Presley and Serina.

“All three of the triplets will be Division I players,” said Persad, 34. “They are genetically gifted.”

Persad, who was a two-year soccer starter at San Diego State before carving out a seven-year pro career in Spain, Portugal and Belgium, is clearly building something good at Doral.

The coach has a lot going on these days. He and his wife, Joselyn, are the proud parents of six-week-old Adriano.

In addition, Persad is studying sports law at St. Thomas University.

Somehow, he finds the time to lead Doral, which is already home to the reigning boys’ soccer state champs, coach by Pamela McDonald.

If the Doral girls’ team is to get their own big trophy this season, the “baby bunch” will have to continue to mesh with the Firebirds veterans.

That list of vets includes seniors Pietra Tordin and Camila Lezcano; juniors Elizabeth Mata and Arianna Guerra; and sophomores Ayla Ramos and Sasha Gomez.

Ramos is the starting goalie and a transfer from TERRA. Lezcano has signed with Gardner-Webb University, and she has also been invited to the U.S. Olympic development camp in Tampa.

Tordin has signed to play college ball for Princeton, but she is also drawing interest from pro scouts in England.

“I believe girls will be wearing her name on the backs of their jerseys one day,” said Persad, predicting eventual stardom for Tordin. “She has God-given gifts.”

Cindy Marcial, who coaches one of the state’s top programs at American Heritage, agrees with Persad.

“Pietra is one of the best players I’ve ever seen,” said Marcial, whose team lost 3-1 to Doral on Nov. 10.

Two days prior to that, Doral beat Archbishop McCarthy, 4-0.

“Pietra is fantastic,” said McCarthy coach Mike Sica, whose team was a state finalist last season. “But it’s not just her. Their entire team plays fast. They didn’t give us time to breathe.”

Sica also raved about Doral beating Heritage, McCarthy and reigning state champ Venice in a span of five days.

“That was an impressive week,” Sica said.

Especially with 10 middle-school kids on a varsity roster.