LITHIA — Despite Newsome’s perfect record, the Wolves figured a few close games during the regular season meant the Class 5A, District 6 tournament was up for anyone to take.
So Tuesday night, the Wolves took control themselves. They scored four goals in the final 20 minutes to cruise to a 6-0 home win over Durant in the semifinals.
Newsome advances to face Lakeland George Jenkins in Friday’s title game after the Eagles used a hat trick by Lauren Greene in a 3-1 win over Bloomingdale.
“We don’t like it when people take things from us on our home field,” Newsome coach Kelly Townsend said.
Her Wolves (17-0) dominated from the start to secure their 11th consecutive playoff appearance. Peyton Smith capitalized off of her steal and scored her team’s first goal six minutes into the game.
The first of Tatianna Kallianiotis’ two goals — a left footer from just outside the box in the 32nd minute — put Newsome and its strong defense ahead for good. Durant (10-5) only mustered five shots on goal all game against Hannah Roth.
The Wolves added late goals by Lauren Evans and Lindsey Eaton. After hitting the post three times in the first half, Karli Gutsche finally notched a goal in the 78th minute to complete the scoring.
In the second game, Bloomingdale (4-6-5) battled close in the first half before the two-time defending state runnerup Eagles (8-4-4) pulled away in the final 40 minutes to cruise into the playoffs.
Greene scored her first goal in the 16th minute off of a pass from Madison Greene. The Bulls answered 17 minutes later. After a foul in the box, Bloomingdale junior Marissa Webber blasted the penalty kick to tie the game at 1.
But the Bulls didn’t get a shot on goal in the second half, and Lauren Greene added two more goals in the second half to end the Bulls’ season.
Sydney Ross had seven saves for Bloomingdale.