It might have looked a little dicey to some during Friday night's Class 2A-Region 3 final, but not to Tampa Prep coach Cindy Schofield.
"I knew we were going to gain control," Schofield said. "I thought it was just a matter of time (before the victory was sealed)."
She was right: For the fourth consecutive season, the Terps (19-5-2) won a regional title - this time 3-1 against Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin - to earn a trip to next week's state tournament.
"I believed we were going to do it because the seniors on this team didn't want this to be their last game," Schofield said.
She also believed it despite the fact that Hillsborough County's leading scorer, Terrapin junior Colby Maffei (40 goals), was a game-time decision while struggling with a bruised knee.
"This morning, I honestly didn't think I was going to play," Maffei said. "It wasn't until I got here and warmed up that I knew I could go."
Go she did, scoring what would be the game-winner in the 49th minute, heading a shot off a long throw in from Lauren Knoke.
The score made it 2-1, breaking the tie Benjamin (16-4-2) earned on a penalty kick in the 35th minute.
Tampa Prep's Spenser Hollar started the scoring in the 23rd minute, smoking in a ball that deflected off Benjamin's keeper. Jackie Rosenthal sealed the victory in the 54th minute.
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