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Tampa Prep Faces Familiar Foe In State Soccer Semis

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By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: February 11, 2009

TAMPA - The state high school girls soccer tournament gets under way today at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium.

The match of the day features defending Class 2A champion Tampa Prep in a 7:15 p.m. semifinal showdown with Delray Beach American Heritage, the school the Terrapins beat last year in a penalty-kick shootout for the crown.

Tampa Prep (17-3-3) faces an American Heritage (20-3-2) squad that has blasted through the postseason, outscoring three opponents by a combined score of 24-2, including a 10-2 blowout in its first-round match.

The two teams have not met this season, but players from each side should be familiar with one another since several of them play together on the same regional Olympic Developmental Program team.

The Stallions won their last state title in 2004 and have since been state runners-up four straight years. Their roster is dominated by freshmen and sophomores, and they even feature an eighth-grade striker, 5-foot-5 Yulie Lopez, a former Hillsborough County United SC player who has racked up 15 goals and 13 assists this season. American Heritage's top scorer is a freshman, Tatiana Penagos, who has 24 goals and 16 assists.

Tampa Prep also has a freshman leading its attack, 5-7 Colby Maffei. With her 30 goals this season, Maffei has helped fill the void left by the graduation of Chelsea Klotz, who is playing for the University of South Florida. The Terps also feature three seniors – Megan Wall, Taylor Richardson and Paige Goodwin – who have combined for 28 goals and 54 assists.

Orange Park St. John's Country Day is playing West Palm Beach King's Academy in today's other Class 2A semifinal.

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