5A Girls Soccer: Seminole nets 2 in 2 minutes, beats East Lake

When Seminole needed them most, the Warhawks' top-two offensive leaders stepped up and delivered.

Gina Hayduke and Sierra Lelii netted consecutive goals within two minutes of each other in the second half of Tuesday night's Class 5A region semifinal and Seminole beat district-rival East Lake, 2-0.

The win marked the Warhawks' fourth this season against East Lake (13-6-2). Seminole (21-2-1), last year's 5A state runner-up, will now host Gaither High on Friday night at 7:00. The Cowboys (12-5-2) were District 5A-9 runners-up and beat Naples Gulf Coast Tuesday night in double-overtime, 2-1.

After an admittedly frustrating first 40 minutes of play, Hayduke got Seminole on the board in the 55th minute. The junior pounded home her 34th goal of the season with a direct kick from the left side that rattled the crossbar and bounced in.

"It was a little bit frustrating," Hayduke said of the scoreless first half. "We just had to keep our heads up, know that we've got this and that we're getting our chances so it's going to come eventually. We just kept pushing and pushing for the goal."

Within two minutes Lelii doubled that lead. The senior hammered a perfectly placed ball from about 25 yards out that sailed over East Lake goalkeeper Chloe Keesecker's reach.

East Lake, competing with no senior position players, gave their District 5A-11 nemesis all it could handle in the first half. The Eagles weathered a 10-minute Warhawks barrage to open the game and then controlled much of the half's pace. Madison Del Duca's run and cross to Megan Kelly in the 16th minute nearly put East Lake ahead 1-0.

Many of the Eagles' attacks were neutralized by Seminole senior defenders Tara Belvin and Sidney Wendel.

The experienced Seminole attack then proved to be too much for East Lake as the match wore on, outshooting the Eagles 10-2 in the second half and 16-5 overall.

"We just had to get the right looks on goal, and we got them," said Seminole coach Steve Kuplicki.

The shutout was Seminole's 15th this season and fifth in a row. The Warhawks have only allowed 11 goals all year.

BOX SCORE:

East Lake - 0 - 0 --- 0
Seminole - 0 - 2 --- 2

SCORING:

Seminole

Gina Hayduke (Jr.) - 1 Goal (55')
Sierra Lelii (Sr.) - 1 Goal (57')