St. Johns Country Day’s girls soccer team is going to have to wait to get back to its championship-winning ways.
Shorecrest Prep keeper Sonoma Kasica turned back everything the Spartans could throw at her, turning in a gem in goal as the Chargers stunned St. Johns 1-0 in the Class 2A state semifinals on Tuesday in Auburndale.
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The Spartans (15-3-5), one of the most successful girls soccer programs in the country, had last missed the state title game in 2011. Instead of a rematch against Lakeland Christian in Friday’s state title game, the Spartans will regroup and try and shake off a two-year title drought next season.
Kasica, a Notre Dame signee and member of the U.S. Under-19 Women’s Youth National Team, was as good as advertised. The few shots that St. Johns managed to get around the Shorecrest defense wound up getting vacuumed up by Kasica.
Her play of the game came when Spartans ace Sydney Schmidt stepped up for a penalty kick with just under 5 minutes to play. Schmidt went left and Kasica read it perfectly and pushed it away. The Spartans tried to play the deflection by the Chargers cleared it and they didn’t threaten again.
The Chargers scored on an odd play with just over 6 minutes to play in the first half. Keeper Roxy Mathews came out to play a high, arcing ball into the box but a Chargers player was able to put a head on it before Mathews touched it. The carom dribbled past Mathews and into the net for the only goal that Kasica would need.
It’s the first time since 2011 that the Spartans haven’t reached the championship game. St. Johns erupted after that, ripping off a state record 11 consecutive championships from 2012 to 2022. The title streak ended last year with a 2-1 loss to Lakeland Christian. The Spartans beat Shorecrest Prep for championships in 2020 and ‘22.