Edison girls’ soccer team continues breakthrough season with first GMAC championship
Miami Edison has long been one of the better squads in Miami-Dade County in boys’ soccer.
But it’s been a long time since its girls’ soccer teams reached such a level.
That looks like it could be changing.
The Red Raiders made a big statement this week, culminating with Friday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Palmetto at Traz Powell Stadium which secured the school’s first ever GMAC championship for its girls’ program.
“I’m so happy because those girls do a lot and work a lot and they have club experience which has made them a very good team,” Edison coach Emile Wilnord said. “Right now we’re the best team in Dade County.”
It took resilience Friday for the Red Raiders to reach this milestone.
Palmetto, a regular at the GMAC tournament, struck first within the first 10 minutes of the match when Andrea Nunez found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
But Edison responded with two second-half goals and a rally that started when Pierre-line Senat scored off an assist from Rosebrude Rosinvil. Roughly seven minutes later, Dyolanda Cesar headed home a corner kick by Senat to put the Red Raiders ahead for good and set off celebrations by the school’s faculty and fans in attendance.
“We wanted to bring everybody out here to support. Teachers, our assistant principal, our principal, everyone,” Wilnord said. “It’s a very good time for us. We worked hard and we made sure to bring something we had never brought home before.”
In recent years, Edison has become a state powerhouse in flag football, and a little over two decades ago, the Red Raiders were dominant in girls’ basketball during the time WNBA legend Sylvia Fowles played at the school.
Their hope is to build something similar with its soccer team, which has not advanced to the regional playoffs since 1990.
The Red Raiders, who play in District 14-3A, will next try to win that championship at the end of the month. Edison is ranked No. 8 overall in the state in Class 3A, but will have to navigate through a tough region that includes reigning state runner-up NSU University School if it is to make it to the state final four.
“We hope this makes districts easier for us now,” Wilnord said. “After that? You never know.”
This story was originally published January 13, 2024 at 7:45 AM.
