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Girls Soccer: Tampa Prep Rolls Into State Final Four

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: February 7, 2009

TAMPA - A hat trick from freshman forward Colby Maffei and some solid defending by her teammates in Friday's Class 2A-Region 3 final powered Tampa Prep to a 4-1 victory against Bradenton St. Stephen's - and back into the 2A girls soccer state final four.

Tampa Prep, which won last year's 2A title, improved to 18-3-2 and will face Delray Beach American Heritage on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. in the state semifinals. Unlike last year's final four in Fort Lauderdale, the Terps won't have to travel far for the tournament because it will be played across the street from their campus at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium.

"I'm not sure most people realize how tough it is to get back to the final four," said Tampa Prep coach Pam Smith. "We had some turnover from last year's team but these freshmen have stepped up and the senior leadership we've gotten from Megan Wall, Taylor Richardson and Paige Goodwin has just been excellent."

A corner kick from Wall to Goodwin gave Tampa Prep a 1-0 lead after four minutes. The corner should have been cleared out of the 18-yard box by the Falcons but it wound up at the feet of Goodwin, who had no trouble tapping the ball in from just a yard out.

The first of Maffei's three goals made it 2-0 in the 12th minute. This time, it was a Goodwin cross into the box that Maffei volleyed into the goal from 15 yards. St. Stephen's pulled one back just before halftime when Amber Falkner knocked in a well-struck free kick from her sister, Ashley, that Terps keeper Jordan Hatton was unable to control.

The gap remained a single goal until the 68th minute, when Maffei made it 3-1 by blasting in a cross from Wall from 12 yards out. Maffei earned her 30th goal of the season - and her fifth hat trick - eight minutes later by outracing Falcons keeper Shannon Morrish to a loose ball just inside the area and dribbling it into the goal.

"I don't know the feeling of what it's like going to the state tournament but I'm really excited to be going," said Maffei, who plays her club soccer for H.C. United. "Since we're so close, I'm hoping our whole school will come to our game."

Last season, Tampa Prep beat St. Stephen's 8-0 in the region final en route to winning the state title, 2-1 (3-0 on penalty kicks) against American Heritage.

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