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Tampa Prep Reaches 2A State Final

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE - All the Tampa Prep girls soccer team could muster at halftime of its Class 2A state semifinal game on Thursday was silence.

The Terrapins (25-1-1) were outshot by Orangewood Christian by four shots in the first half and weren't playing with the desire that had gotten them this far.

Tampa Prep went into the second half a renewed team, peppering Orangewood goalkeeper Stephanie Gagnon with shots and putting four past her as the Terrapins won, 5-3, to advance to the state finals for the first time.

Senior striker Chelsea Klotz continued her scoring tear with a hat trick, bringing her postseason goal total to 17.

"We were furious," junior midfielder Taylor Richardson said of the Terrapins at halftime. "We knew that we had let a goal in, they had the lead and we had to come out fighting, and the team motivation was strong. We were ready to get this back. I asked the team, 'Who wants this more, them or us?' and everybody started screaming."

Klotz opened the scoring in the third minute, shooting wide of a diving Gagnon after taking a pass from Connor Zwetsch.

Orangewood (12-9-3) came back with consecutive goals in the 29th and 36th minutes to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

The second goal was especially frustrating to the Terrapins because it appeared to be an errant shot that was going high and wide, but it found its way into the top corner of the net.

"The other three teams in our division have all been here before," Tampa Prep coach Pam Smith said. "Obviously, Orangewood can play and we got the first goal and that helped, and then at the end of the first half we weren't moving the ball. Orangewood goal No. 2, I don't want to say it was a fluke, but the other team did a great job."

In the second half, Tampa Prep looked like a different team and suddenly was making Orangewood appear to be out of its league.

Tampa Prep's defense barely allowed Orangewood into its end, and that was reflected in the shot totals. The Terrapins were outshot 9-5 in the first half, then had a 15-6 advantage over the Rams in the second.

"The second half is definitely how we play," junior forward Paige Goodwin said. "The past couple of games we've kind of come out slow in the first half, and the second half we get one goal and build up the intensity."

The Rams didn't have much of an answer for Klotz in the second half, and she scored twice to complete the hat trick.

"The defenders were really hard, and they stayed on Paige and I very well," Klotz said. "My team was giving me the ball. I couldn't do it alone. It was definitely all them."

Zwetsch's goal gave the Terrapins the 3-2 lead in the 52nd minute, and Amber Miller extended the lead in the 54th.

Klotz's third goal in the 60th minute pretty much sealed it, although Orangewood knocked one in during the 78th minute.

Tampa Prep moves on to play 31-0-0 American Heritage at noon on Saturday for the Class 2A state title.

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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