The Oviedo Lions girls soccer team is used to winning. Last year’s 5A State Champions, the girls are hoping for their 4th title in 7 years.
“You don’t want to downgrade each year so we are trying to improve each year,” said senior Camille Copperthite.
Where some teams dream of the day they reach the state level the Lions have goals of so much more. “My personal goal was to go undefeated this year and we’ve actually achieved this goal so far,” said Erin Mikalsen.
The Lions are indeed undefeated at 18 wins, 0 losses and just one tie, but not every team heads to the final 4 chasing perfection. Some are just happy to be there. Eleven miles up the road in Seminole County, the boys at Seminole High School have never made it this far.
“It’s unreal. I just didn’t even think of it coming into this season and now it feels so good thinking we can win this whole thing,” said Seminole senior Jordan Katz.
“We are all getting ready for that last game, and if we can push that game through then the state championship would just be absolutely surreal for everybody,” said Connor Fogleman.
Seminole took an overtime victory in the regional finals to make it this far, and a couple close calls before that as well. Head Coach Brian Emrick jokes about the near misses. “I’ve got a few more grey hairs now coaching these guys this season but it’s been really rewarding to see the growth that these guys have.”
Final Four. And whether you’ve been there before, or it’s their first state appearance, the pressure is there.