The Lake Mary High School girls soccer team pulled off its second upset in as many games, shutting out top-seeded Weston-Cypress Bay (18-2-1), 2-0, in the 2025 FHSAA Class 7A Championship Game Friday afternoon at Orlando Health Stadium in the Lake Myrtle Sport Park in Auburndale.
The No. 3 seeded Rams (19-3-2) had advanced to the finale by outscoring No. 2 seeded Palm Harbor University (18-2-1), 3-2, last Monday.
The county did not get a double championship, however, as the Oviedo High School boys were nipped, 1-0, by Jacksonville-Mandarin in the Class 6A Semifinals last Thursday.
Lake Mary had taken an early (15th-minute) lead in the semifinal on a goal by Anna Voigt, but the Hurricanes netted pair of goals late in the opening frame (in the 23rd- and 37th-minute) to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The score was still 2-1, when Voigt finally tied the contest midway (57th-minute) through the second half.
With the clock running down, the Rams found the game-winner with 4-minutes remaining (76th-minute) when Lindsay Sheets found the back of the net on an assist from Krista Hansen.
Goalkeeper Laura Walker preserved the victory, making nine saves on 11 shots faced.
In the final, Sheets gave Lake Mary, ranked No. 12 in the nation by MaxPreps, an early lead when Kailey Susi placed a perfect crossing pass on corner kick just 3:30 into the game to the far post and the senior was there to head it in.
And the Rams (who moved up to No. 8 nationally this week) never gave Cypress Bay, ranked No. 5 in the nation, to get back into the contest as the Walker-led defense kept the Lightning off the board, holding them to just five shots on goal and eight shots altogether.
Lake Mary got the all-important insurance score from Ava McKay in the final minute before the halftime break.
The State Championship was the fourth for the Rams, but first in 23 years, and the first for an Orlando-area school since Oviedo won in 2017.
This is the first title for Christian Eissele, who succeeded his father, Bill Eisselle, after the elder retired in 2020 after leading Lake Mary to championships in 1989, 1998 and 2002 and a coaching record of 660-215-72.
Joining Christian Eissele on the Rams coaching staff was assistants _ Julia Holmqvist and Adam Reardon _ and Statistician Peter Voigt, Statistician.
Making up the roster is:
Seniors _ Ava Berry, Kiyro Garcia, Anita Jones, Marisa Ocasek, Amanda Pollitto, Lindsay Sheets, Anna Voigt, Laura Walker, Madelyn Winn; Juniors _ Lara Greenstein, Reagan Haynes, Danika Kilbourne, Ava McKay, Peyton O’Linn; Sophomores _ Camryn Barrett, Myah Bonnett, Krista Hansen, Ailany Rodarte, Kailey Susi, Teagan Jahns; Freshmen _ Liliana Marshall, Jazmin Rentie.
Meanwhile, the Lions boys saw their season end with a 15-4-3 record that included SAC, District and Regional championships under head coach Ben Luker, who was assisted by Harry New, Jack Luker and Tony Lovelace.
Here is the roster:
Seniors _ Kaden Atwell, Matthew Blanco, Nathan Capp, Talon Cilento, Alaan Mardini, Jackson McKee, Ellison Ruffin, Jackson Sloane, Andrew Solomon, Carson Travieso; Juniors _ Brandon Barker, Blake Bertot, Roman Cilento, Juan Cordero, Anthony Council, Benjamin Duncan, Blake McCaslin, Ian Orozco, Alexzander Pavlovic, Matias Rodriguez; Sophomores _ Jack Nugent; Freshmen _ James Bengal, Eliel Feliz, Liam Luker, Andrew Mikhail, Madrick Muina, Joseph Parker, Hector Sanchez.
Here are the State Results:
State Championships
2025 FHSAA Class 4A-Class 7A
At Soccer Stadium Field at Lake Myrtle Sports Park
Auburndale, Florida
Boys
Class 6A
Semifinals
Thursday, February 20, 2025
New Port Richey-Mitchell 3, Boca Raton-Olympic Heights 2, overtime.
Jacksonville-Mandarin 1, Oviedo 0.
Championship
Saturday, February 22, 2025
New Port Richey-Mitchell 1, Jacksonville-Mandarin 0.
Girls
Class 7A
Semifinals
Monday, February 17, 2025
Lake Mary 3, Palm Harbor University 2.
Weston-Cypress Bay 1, Jupiter 0.
Championship
Friday, February 21, 2025
Lake Mary 2, Weston-Cypress Bay 0.
