American Heritage girls’ soccer secures another ‘three-peat’ with dominant performance

Put another three-peat in the books for the Patriots.

Ranked the No. 1 team in the nation, American Heritage won the Class 4A girls soccer state championship on Friday at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, turning back the two-time defending 4A state champions Orlando Bishop Moore, 3-0.

It was the 13th state championship for American Heritage and the eighth under head coach Cindy Marcial.

“We are the type of team that comes out strong,” Marcial said. “Once we score, we score two or three goals after that. We hit the crossbar a couple of times and it could have been a lot more than that.”

The win marked the 11th consecutive shutout for American Heritage, which hasn’t given up a goal since Dec. 17 to Lourdes Academy.

“Our defense has been great all year. We haven’t had a lot of goals scored on us throughout the whole time playing in the playoffs,” Marcial said.

American Heritage entered the season having won back-to-back 5A state championships before reclassification moved them over to 4A competition this season.

The title marked the third time in the program’s illustrious history they posted at state championship three-peat.

“We are all about tradition and we want to keep it going,” Marcial said.

American Heritage wasted no time taking an early lead just two minutes into the game on a goal by Allison Aleman, the first of two in the first half for the junior forward.

“I do believe the first goal really shocked them,” Aleman said. “It might have brought their energy down from the start. Once we got that second goal we were on a roll and they were really taken back and we took advantage of it.”

American Heritage senior forward Samantha Villaverde pushed the lead to 2-0 when she scored with 23:45 left on the clock after a corner kick by Courtney Caruso.

“Every time we have a corner (kick) I know I got one job, find the ball and put it in the back of the net, and I was able to do that tonight,” Villaverde said. “It was an incredible night to be able to do it. I couldn’t have been prouder to be on this team. It was fun in the cold. I walked on the field and thought ‘What a beautiful night to be playing soccer’.”

Aleman’s second goal came with 13:42 left in the first half, sending the Patriots to halftime with a 3-0 lead. American Heritage also out-shot Bishop Moore 9-4.

Villaverde has been part of all three title teams, but she feels this one may be the best of the lot.

“I think this one is,” Villaverde said. “To be ranked No. 1 in the nation, I mean I have to give props to Coach Cindy for being an incredible coach. This is just an amazing team.”

American Heritage first three-peated in a run from 2000-2002 and then won four consecutive state championships from 2013-16.