Playing in its first Final 4, the Oviedo High School girls fell one victory short of winning its first title, dropping a 13-7 decision to powerful Ponte Vedra High School in the Class 2A Championship Game, 11-7, in the FHSAA State Lacrosse Championships at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples on Saturday, May 9.
The Lions, who also won their first Regional Championship, completes the season with a remarkable 21-2 record.
Oviedo reached the Championship Game by dominating its first-ever State Semifinal, 11-3, handing Plant High School (15-1) from Tampa its first loss of the season.
The Lions led just 1-0 after the first quarter, but then turned the contest into a rout by exploding for seven goals in the second period and building an 8-1 lead at the halftime break.
Plant took a goal off the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the locals, 2-1, but Oviedo bounced back to win the final quarter, 2-0.
Junior Addison Steinebronn led the way for the Lions, causing five turnovers on defense, while also scoring two goals and handing out two assists on offense.
Sophomore Savannah Fryzel was the game’s high scorer with three goals, while seniors Olivia Lunardi and Lexie Slain netted two goals each and freshman Cate Steinebronn and sophomore Presley Krantz scored one goal each.
That victory advanced OHS to the Final, where they would face Ponte Vedra (17-3), which had eliminated Vero Beach High School (11-2), 16-4, in the other Semifinal.
Ponte Vedra won every quarter, slowly pulling away from the Lions, who kept the contest close by just trailing 3-1 after one period and 7-4 at halftime.
The second half was much the same, with the new champs winning the third period, 3-2, and the fourth quarter, 3-1.
Olivia Lunardi and Addison Steinebronn led the way for Oviedo, scoring 2 goals each, while Cate Steinebronn, Krantz and Fryzel each added a goal and an assist each.
The Lions were under the direction of Head Coach Scott Dean, who was assisted by James Ford, the team’s Offensive Coordinator, who announced his retirement last Monday, and Morgan Picton.
Making up the Oviedo roster were _ Seniors: Jasmyn Canagasaby, Anna Chattin, Olivia Lunardi, Sofia Miller, Lexie Slain; Juniors: Daniela Forsyth, Riley Hoffman, Sophie Love, Madison Nguyen Meyer, Mia Palumbo, Grace Reid, Addison Steinebronn; Sophomores: Ariya Canagasaby, Leah Chattin, Savannah Fryzel, Presley Krantz, Gianna Lunardi, Julia Ungvarsky; Freshmen: Elizabeth Hoffman and Cate Steinebronn.
Here is the results from the Final 4:
GIRLS LACROSSE
FHSAA State Championships
At Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples
Class 2A
Semifinals
Friday, May 8
Game 1 _ (2) Oviedo (21-1) 11, (3) Plant (15-1) 3.
Game 2 _ (1) Ponte Vedra (16-3) 16, (4) Vero Beach (11-2) 4.
Final
Saturday, May 9
Game 3 _ Championship: (1) Ponte Vedra (17-3) 13, (2) Oviedo (21-2) 7.
