RSL Florida takes 2 state titles

RSL Florida took a pair of Florida Youth Soccer Association state championships on Sunday afternoon, its girls under-18 side rallying from a two-goal first-half deficit to earn its place back at the regional championships with a 3-2 win against Team Boca.

RSL dominated the bulk of the second half, but left it late to earn victory. Trailing 2-1 with 15 minutes to go, Jordan Johnson fired a low shot into the left corner of the net to get her team on level terms.

Six minutes later, RSL was able to use its speed on a counterattack, Connor Zwetsch releasing Zoe Lombard down the right side, and Lombard lifted her shot over the advancing keeper, off the left post and into the net.

"We talked to her at halftime about getting across the back four when she was making her runs," RSL coach Jim Cote said. "She came from the left to the right and got into the space, brought the keeper out and tucked it in the far side."

Alex Major and Laura Weinberg had given Boca the lead in the first half, but RSL pulled a goal back just before halftime when Johnson's free kick from the right was turned into her own net by a defender who was being pressured by Thea Linkfield.

"We have a lot of heart," Lombard said. "We showed we weren't going to give up and we kept going to keep after it until the last second and that shows a lot about our team and what we're going to do."

RSL's boys under-16 team also won, its first state title after reaching the final for the fourth straight season. Travis Jehs and Jake Frahm scored in a 2-0 defeat of the Florida Rush.

It has been a strong season already for the squad, but Coach Steve Wolf was pleased his side was able to finally win a state title.

"I'm so happy for this group," Wolf said. "Now we want to move on from here, like I told them we don't want to go to regionals for a vacation, we want to go and compete."

HCU rallies to take state championship

Michael Bazja's 30th-minute goal made the difference as Hillsborough County United's boys under-15 team defeated Kendall 2-1 to earn a state title.

"We've been telling him for a couple of weeks now that he's got to shoot in traffic," HCU coach Scott Moniz said. "Today he did and he got the result."

Bazja connected from 25 yards out, the shot just going under the Kendall goalkeeper as he dived to his right for the save. The ball slowly crept over the line before he could make a second effort to keep it out.

"It means the world, it's a great feeling," Bazja said. "To help the team, be a leader for the team and score the winning goal in the state final means everything."

Kendall had taken the lead in the 14th minute, Brian Unger with the goal, but three minutes later HCU's Greg Balsamello tied the game with a well-struck volley.

Kendall stepped up its efforts in the second half, and HCU had to hold on late, with Andrew Brody's clearing header off the line on a volley from just outside the penalty area following a corner coming just before the final whistle.

"That was the clincher," Bazja said. "He was in the right place at the right time, it was a great save."

Brandon girls fall in overtime

A pair of goals by Space Coast's Jackie Steckel, including the winner in overtime, proved the difference as it defeated the Brandon Flames girls under-15 team 2-1 for the state championship.

Brandon played well, if a little more directly than usual, but were able to create chances in both halves. They were thwarted, though, but Space Coast goalkeeper Carlyn Prisco, who made a number of good saves to keep the game scoreless.

Steckel then got her first goal midway through the second half, a good turn and shot finding the left side of the goal.

Brandon kept pressing forward, and was rewarded for its persistence when Aubrey Riggins scored late to force overtime.

But Steckel then scored her second early in the first half of overtime, and the Flames were unable to find a way back.

"Their goalkeeper was huge, she's a good player and she does that every game," Brandon coach Randy Belli said. "She saved a lot of our shots from distance and did a really good job with our high balls."