Mazziotto hat-trick propels Montverde girls' rout of TFA
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Antonella Mazziotto Duffaut scored three goals Wednesday, and the Montverde Eagles clinched the Class 3A, District 5 girls soccer title with a 5-0 victory over The First Academy.
The Eagles (10-2-2) will host a Region 2 quarterfinal match on Tuesday. The Royals (11-4) will likely also advance to regionals.
Montverde's Estefania Gonzalez (30) and Antonella Mazziotto Duffaut (39) celebrate a goal by Gonzalez. Mazziotto Duffaut added three goals of her own in the Eagles' 5-0 victory over The First Academy in the Class 3A, District 5 girls soccer championship match.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
The region also had a couple upsets. Region 2 second seed Tampa Catholic lost to eighth-seeded Berk Prep in the Districdt 7 final 1-1 in penalty kicks. No. 10 seed Sarasota Cardinal Mooney def fifth-seeded St. Petersburg Catholic 4-2. With 14-seeded Lake Placid playing 16-seeded Fort Meade in the District 6 final, some top-8-seeded teams may have to sweat the bracket release.
Montverde coach Robbie Aristodemo said the Eagles have struggled recently due to injuries. His team took control early, getting several shots.
Estefania Gonzalez added a goal and an assist, and Reese John also scored a goal for the Eagles. Grace Sodermark had two assists for the Eagles.
“We don’t change too much. We figured they were a counterattacking team, and they had a few chances,” Aristodemo said. “We just play like we like to play. It’s possession, it’s getting their outside backs forward. It’s free-flowing, attacking football. We were fortunate to get enough goals. Their keeper made some great saves. Overall, we were happy with the performance.”
TFA freshman keeper Mackenzie Butcher withstood several tests early. The Eagles forced Butcher into making 12 saves.
“I thought she did well,” The First Academy coach Mark Hansen said. “She’s young. We were built around her, but obviously there’s room for growth for her. For a freshman against a team like that, she did tremendous.”
The First Academy freshman Mackenzie Pitcher had 12 saves against Montverde.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
Gonzalez broke the shutout by beating Butcher to the right for a 1-0 Montverde lead in the 13th minute.
“We moved the ball fast. We scored five goals, and we’re excited to have won district,” Gonzalez said.
Mazziotto made it 2-0 by heading in a Sodermark corner kick with 13:12 left in the half.
Mazziotto beat the keeper to the right to put the Eagles up 3-0 in the 46th minute, then bounced a 15-yard shot off the right post into the goal for a 4-0 lead.
“I think we played with patience,” Mazziotto said. “We did what we practiced, so this is the result.”
Montverde forward Antonella Mazziotto Duffaut (left) tries to control a pass in front of The First Academy's Hannah Hudson. Mazziotto scored three goals in the Eagles' 5-0 victory.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
John scored with 5:18 left by putting back a rebound.
The Eagles defense smothered TFA’s attack, not allowing a shot until 8:28 left in the game. Aristodemo credited his offense for retaining possession and taking pressure off the Eagles’ defense.
Hansen said the Royals struggled due to injuries to forward Lael Hill, midfielder Lottie Jackson and defender Serenity Thomas.
“We’re already through to the regionals,” Hansen said. “Down 2-0 at the half, couple players injured, we made decisions to do what we were doing originally and look forward to the regional.”
The First Academy's Elizabet Rosario (left) tries to chase down a pass ahead of Montverde defender Sara Zona during Montverde's 5-0 victory.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
