Cypress Bay girls’ soccer earns another chance to win first state championship

Cypress Bay is on the threshold of a state championship again.

Cypress Bay held off a pesky Jupiter squad 1-0 on Monday in a Class 7A girls soccer state semifinal at Lake Myrtle Soccer Complex to gain a berth in the state championship game.

“I knew at this point everything was going to be close, so it didn’t shock me that it was 1-0,” said Cypress Bay coach Kate Dwyer, now in her 19th season with the program. “I thought it would go 2-1.

“In my opinion, (Jupiter) took it to us in the second half. Which is kind of natural when you’re up and they are down.”

The Lightning will face Lake Mary Friday at 1 p.m. for the 7A state title. Lake Mary, seeking its fourth state championship, advanced after rallying to beat Palm Harbor University 3-2 in the first semi.

This game marked the seventh time Cypress Bay has reached the state semifinals and now the sixth time the Lightning will venture into the state title game while still looking for its first state championship.

“Did I think the 1-0 lead was going to hold? No. We had people playing where they shouldn’t have been. They fought for each other, which is all that matters,” Dwyer said.

Cypress Bay (18-1-1) leaped out to a 1-0 lead at the 20-minute mark of the first half on a nifty goal by senior Valentina Zorilla. But from there it was a defensive struggle even though Zorilla put nine more shots on goal, and one shot ricocheted off the crossbar shaking the whole frame and net it was struck so hard.

“Great game and we played great as a team,” Valentina said. “We kept possession for a long time. We kept shooting on goal and never gave up. Honestly, I kept trying for more goals but that was the only one and the only one that matters.”