JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Stanton is the first Gateway Conference girls soccer team to reach the state final since 1998. By the way, the seniors on the Blue Devils were born in 1999. History in the making is the best way to describe this team.
It took penalty kicks for Stanton to get past Land O’ Lakes (Tampa area) in the 3A semifinals. Both teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. It took another six rounds of penalty kicks before the Blue Devils came out on top.
They enter Friday’s 3A state title match against Merrit Island (10 a.m.) playing their best soccer of the year. The Blue Devils last defeat was on Nov. 30th against Fleming Island.
“This team is so close and that’s why we’ve been successful,” said Stanton senior midfielder Alyssa Mahar. “The program has started to work together and has brought all of us closer together. That’s where the success lies.”