LITHIA — Newsome’s Karli Gutsche tried three headers off of corner kicks to no avail, sailing each over the crossbar during the first half of the Wolves’ 7-0 region quarterfinal win against Orlando Boone.
Then the Auburn commit tried another way. Gutsche scored the first of her three goals by kicking in a rebound after goalkeeper Dyana Herrera made a save on Lindsey Eaton’s tough-angle shot from the left side. That goal, in the 38th minute, gave host Newsome a 1-0 halftime lead.
“It was definitely tough to get it in the goal for the first half,” Gutsche said.
The Wolves’ offense came alive in the second half. Gutsche completed her hat trick, and Claire Kartheiser also had three goals. Eaton’s goal in the 54th minute started it all. She split two defenders to beat Herrera on the left side for a 2-0 lead.
“We started going outside and making things happen,” Newsome coach Kelly Townsend said.
Newsome (19-0) had 23 shots, 13 in the second half, and limited Orlando Boone (17-6-3) to eight.
Gutsche’s hat trick included goals after falling in the penalty box and a partial breakaway. It brought her to within two goals of the school record of 22 set by her sister, Karina, a University of Florida player and 2011 Newsome graduate.
Bradenton Manatee 3, Plant 1: The host Hurricanes scored all of their goals in the second half. Sarah Wasser, who hit the crossbar during the first half, made it 1-0 off of a corner kick in the 53rd minute. Michaella Krebser set up Jessica Shafer to make it 2-0 in the 65th and scored to make it 3-0 in the 69th. Abby Sanchez scored for Plant in the 75th.