Coral Reef girls top Ferguson in two overtimes to reach the District 16-5A final
Bianca Mandrini wasn’t going to stop until she had redeemed herself.
Even after she had by scoring the match-winning goal Monday afternoon for the Coral Reef girls’ soccer team, it took a second for her to catch her breath.
“I didn’t even know the game was over at first,” said Mandrini, a sophomore forward. “Then I saw everyone celebrating and telling me we won.”
Mandrini saved Coral Reef’s season in the closing seconds of regulation with the tying goal and later scored the golden goal in the second overtime period to lift the Barracudas to a 2-1 victory over Ferguson in a District 16-5A semifinal at Harris Field.
Coral Reef (10-4-1) advanced to the district championship game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Harris where it will play undefeated Palmetto (19-0). The Panthers dominated South Dade in the other semifinal for a 3-0 win.
The Barracudas became one of the two teams to survive the district dubbed by many as Miami-Dade County’s “district of death” and clinched a berth in the regional quarterfinals for the first time in three seasons.
Ferguson (12-4-2) was eliminated in the district semifinals for the first time since 2011.
Mandrini tallied her 15th and 16th goals of the season, assisted each time by sophomore Marissa Coppola.
“We waited until the last second to finally break through, but we gave ourselves a chance in the end,” Coral Reef coach Deano Nunez said.
The story of Monday’s game could have ended sour for Mandrini after she missed an open net on a shot earlier in the match that could have broken a scoreless tie in Coral Reef’s favor.
Ferguson took its 1-0 lead on a goal by Gaby Arellana and was seconds from winning the match. But when Coppola and Mandrini got behind the defense and Mandrini skipped a ball past keeper Savannah Ward, she and the Barracudas had their second chance.
After a stalemate in the first overtime, Mandrini struck again off a cross from Coppola in the second minute that ended the game.
Coral Reef beat Ferguson after having lost and tied the first two times the teams played. Against Palmetto, Coral Reef has lost twice. But the Barracudas, a team that starts one freshmen and six sophomores, are confident they can put together a good performance Wednesday.
▪ District 16-5A semifinal — Palmetto 3, South Dade 0: A year after Palmetto ousted then-unbeaten South Dade from the playoffs in this round, roles were reversed.
The victor, however, remained the same.
On the strength of a pair of goals by Ava Gruener and one early by Emily Lamas, the Panthers prevented South Dade from earning payback. Morgan Lang recorded her 12th shutout. Palmetto secured a berth in the regional round for the second consecutive year and eighth time in the past nine seasons.
MORE GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ District 16-2A quarterfinals — Carrollton 2, Coral Shores 0: Alexis Diaz-Silveira goal. Sidney Sarriol goal. Sarah Bernguer assist.
▪ District 16-2A quarterfinals — Westminster Christian 2, St. Brendan 1: Madison Precht goal. Kelly Rico goal. Emily Battle goal.
▪ District 14-2A quarterfinal — Cardinal Gibbons 8, Calvary Christian 0: Mackenzie Crittenberger 2 goals, 2 assists. Grace Motta 2 goals, 2 assists. Amy Barra 2 goals, 2 assists. Maya Alicea goal. Alysa Vazquez goal. Ryleigh Brown, Sarah Arcella shutout. CG 14-1-2.
▪ District 15-5A opening round — Coral Park 4, Southwest 0: Maria Vega goal. Estrellita Torrest goal. Michelle Mendez 2 goals. Madeline Perez assist. Natalie Diaz shutout. CP 7-6-2.
▪ District 15-2A quarterfinals — MAST 2, Somerset 1: Karin Pomares goal. Stephanie Widell goal. MA 12-6.
▪ District 14-2A quarterfinals — St. Andrews 2, University School 1: US (6-6-5): Fernanda Furszyfer goal.
▪ District 14-2A quarterfinals — North Broward Prep 5, Coral Springs Charter 0: Rachel Blow 2 goals, assist. Morgan Hawes goal, assist. Morgan Sherman goal. Lexi Dubreuze goal. NBP 12-7-1.
▪ District 14-2A — Pine Crest 8, FAU 0: Madeline Turner 4 goals. Karlie Pollock goal, assist. Sophia Danielsen, Skylar Pollock shutout. PC 15-1-2.
BOYS’ SOCCER
▪ Belen 2, LaSalle 1: Frankie de la Camara 2 goals. Tavish Rice 2 assists. BEL 19-0-2.
▪ American Heritage Plantation 0, Gulliver 0: Jonathan Gomes shutout. Defense: Devon Northard, Alex Wallace, Joseph Vinson, Malcolm Tilokee. AHP 13-2-4.
▪ Gulliver 0, American Heritage Plantation 0: Gabriel Mellor shutout. GP 10-1-0.
▪ Ransom Everglades 5, Palmer Trinity 1: Jackson Mihm goal. Antoine Esber goal. Alex Stuart goal. Andrew Geraghty goal. Francisco Gonzalez goal. RE 16-4.
▪ Sagemont 1, Calvary Christian 1: CCA 1-14-1.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Miami Community Charter 64, Schoolhouse Prep 57: HT: 29-26 MCC. MCC (9-9): Carter 15, Brewster 27, Conde 14, Appleby 7. SHP: Cail 14, Tompkins 12, Smith 4, Machado 12, Gorbin 6, O’Riley 5, Reyes 4. Rebounds: Sanchez 9. Steals: Carter 4. Assists: Carter 6. Three-pointers:Conde 3.
▪ Miami High 69, Hialeah Gardens 39: MIA (11-5): Mera 12, Reyes 2, Sierra 33, Lipman 7, Garcia 3, Arce 12. HG: Ochoa 2, Infonte 10, Barber 6, Toledo 11, Martin 8. HT 38-25 MIA. Three-pointers: Mera 3, Lipman 2, Arce 2, Garcia. Rebounds: Sierra 25. Assists: Mera 8. Steals: Sierra 4. Blocks: Sierra 3.
▪ American 57, Hialeah 52: HIA: Morera 11, Paul 3, Louis 16, Gonzalez 13, Rivera 2, Joseph 7. AME: Johnson 12, Jones 3, Harris 17, Evans 13, Narvaez 4, Vilchez 6, Petit - Frere 2. HT: AM 29-27. Three-pointers: Morera 3, Gonzalez 3, Johnson 3. Rebounds: Harris 11. Assists: Evans 7. Steals:Copeland 2, Johnson 2, Evans 2.
▪ Archbishop McCarthy 95, Pompano Beach 72: AM (12-5): Arocho 15, Diaz 10, Jones 15, Thomas 9, Nesselt 4, Avila 34, Guelce 2, Taylor 6. PB: Tharayil 4, Peeks 13, Krinkie 5, Mickol 5, Guillame 16, Lamberti 29. Three-pointers:Avila 6. HT: AM 42-36. Rebounds: Arocho 16, Jones 16. Assists: Thomas 6.
▪ Pace 82, Edison 73: MP(8-11): del Castillo 27, Brunson 16, I. St. Fleur 14, L. St. Fleur 13, Paula 4, Smart 3, Ragin 3, Alvarez 2. ED: Rankin 9, Wagnac 12, Walton 13, Synvrit 10, Wheeler 2, Dorlus 14, Gay 4, Spencer 3, McNeil 2. Three-pointers: del Castillo 3. Rebounds: I. St. Fleur 8. Assists: Brunson 6. Steals: L. St. Fleur 4. HT: MP 39-28.
▪ Belen 59, Jackson 41: BEL (14-4): Torres De Navarra 4, Salazar 1, Cabrera 3, Milton 5, Mejer 5, Rodriguez 13, Bravo 4, Consuegra 6, Romeu 13, Barnola 1, Carrillo 4. JAX: Cribbs 20, Petit 2, Cherishier 2, Ritchey 4, Bagg 6, Hunt 5, Thompson 2. HT: BEL 33-15. Rebounds: Mejer 7. Assists: Consuegra 7. Steals: Rodriguez 3.
▪ Mater 68, Westland 29: MA (15-3): Quintana 3, Mejia 13, Diaz 15, Frye 10, Stern 16, Monsanto 8, Duquesne 1, De La Rua 2. WES: Rodriguiz 4, Baez 4, Yero 3, Lopez 4, Geffrard 10, Gonzalez 2. HT: MA 44-20. Assists: Frye 5, Diaz 5. Rebounds: Stern 11. Steals: Mejia 5. Blocks: Diaz 2, Duquesne 2, Stern 2. Three-pointers: Mejia 2, Frye 2, Monsanto 2.
▪ Doral 48, TERRA 27: DA (13-4): Castellano 19, Starks 10, Enriquez 4, Fernandez 4, Cobas 4, Nunez 3, Sinclair 2, Carrocera 2. TER: Swihart 12, Garcia 6, Velasquez 3, Capolale 2, Cuero 2. Three-pointers: Castellano 4. Rebounds: Menendez 6. Steals: Starks 4. Assists: Starks 5.
▪ Florida Christian 50, St. Brendan 35: FC: Rivero 5, Jimenez 3, Dahlan 4, Valdes 13, Pericles 6, Wright 4, Perez 15. SB: Diaz 5, de la Torriente 3, Valledor 3, Sanchez 9, Iglesias 12, Fernandez 3. Three-pointers: Valdes 3. Rebounds: Dahlan 8.Assists: Wright 4. HT: FC 19-15.
▪ Westminster 81, Palmetto 50: PAL: J. Hardaway 7, T. Percy 25 3, J. Shinhuster 2 , H. Scott 3, J. Guerrero 3, I. Thomas 2, I. Arvampopholous 8. WC (12-5): J. Brown 27, J. Raine 5, K. Paicely 10, T. Halfaker 11, R. Stewart 2, C. Hernandez 4, T. Brigham 8, J. Avery 2, J. Square 12. HT: 45-28 WC. 45. Three-Pointers: T. Percy 5. Rebounds: J. Square 8. Assist: K. Paicely 5.
▪ Ferguson 74, Varela 65: FER: Gonzalez 4,Hernandez 7, Adan 9, Osceola 34, Fernandez 6, Smith 3, D Gonzalez 11. VAR: Echevarra 8, Ramos 10, Brizvela 15, Thernelan 14, Zapata 10, Lyensang 9.
▪ Late Friday — Coral Reef 92, Palmetto 64: CR (14-2): Ruiz 5, Perez 3, Boria 3, Vreones 18, Cannady 9, Farradas 20, Escoto 7, Bryan 11, Holcombe 15, Moultrie 1.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Ferguson 64, South Miami 51: FER (15-6): Perez 17, Laureano 13, Pineda 12, Rodriguez 7, Kingwood 7, Gonzalez 5, Buitrago 3. SM: Brown 23,Herbert 9, Doctor 7, Thomas 5, Alcazar 5, Coldon 2. HT: FER 29-25 SM. Assists: Perez 7, Rodriguez 5. Rebounds: Pineda 12. Steals: Perez 6. Blocks: Daniels 3
▪ St. Brendan 49, Palmer Trinity 47: SB (13-7): Dominguez 5, Prieto 12, Lara 7, Padro 9, Diaz 2, Sanchez 14. PT: Esco 10, Herling 3, Iglesias 15, James 19. HT: 24-21 PT. Three-pointers: Prieto 2. Rebounds: Padro 7. Assists: Dominguez 5. Steals: Sanchez 4.
▪ Palmetto 39, Hialeah Gardens 24: PAL: Val. Collado 6, Martin 2, Cardet 4, Miyazaki 10, Pivik 9, Pamer 8. HG: Anduja 7, Vinales 10, Martin 3, Torres 4. Rebounds: Collado 6. Assists: Pivik 3. Steals: Martin 2. Blocks: Joseph 1. HT: 16-10 PAL.
▪ Keys Gate 70, Marathon 22: KG: Denis 26, Tyre 17, Moore 10, Velez 7, Klinar 6, Soto 2, Menendez 1. MAR: Raymond 14, Davis 6, Villatoro 2. Three-pointers: Tyre 3. Rebounds: Denis 11. Assists: Tyre 7, Velez 6. Steals: Velez 5. Blocks: Denis 5. HT: KG 42-10.
▪ La Salle 47, Riviera 11: LS (7-9): Hernandez 15, Xiques 12, De Leon 6, Benavides 4, Kuhn 2, Cruz 2, N.Malow 2, Yanes 2, Triay 1. RIV: Demoya 7, Arvelo 2, Portes 1, Gottenger 1. Three-pointers: Hernandez 3. Rebounds: Cruz 5, De Leon 5, Kuhn 5. Assists: Cruz 3, Xiques 2. Steals: Cruz 3, Xiques 3, Benavides 3, Triay 2. HT: LS 28-8.
▪ SLAM 51, Somerset 16: SL (13-4): M.Franco 13, A.Rodriguez 14, J.Garcia 9, O.Christian 6. Rebounds: O. Christian 10. Steals: M.Franco 6. Assists: M.Franco 5.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULES
BOYS’ SOCCER
GMAC semifinals at Tropical Park: 5 and 7
GIRLS’ SOCCER
District 13-5A semifinals at Cypress Bay: Taravella vs. Cypress Bay, 5; West Broward vs. Western, 7
District 15-5A semifinals at Traz Powell Stadium: Coral Gables vs. Miami Beach, 5; Lourdes vs. Southwest-Coral Park winner, 7
District 15-4A semifinals at St. Thomas Aquinas: Nova vs. Archbishop McCarthy, 5; St. Thomas Aquinas vs. South Broward, 7
District 16-4A quarterfinals at Doral: NMB vs. Mater Academy, 5; Central vs. Reagan, 7
District 16-3A semifinals at HML: Goleman vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 5; Mourning vs. Miami Springs, 7
District 15-1A semifinals at Kendall Soccer Field: SLAM vs. Greater Miami Academy, 2; Archimedean vs. Westwood Christian-Curley winner, 4
This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Coral Reef girls top Ferguson in two overtimes to reach the District 16-5A final."