Girls Soccer

NEW PORT RICHEY—Deana Rossi scored her 22nd goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 75th minute to keep River Ridge undefeated with a 3-2 victory against Land O’ Lakes on Wednesday at foggy Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

The win gives River Ridge (13-0, 7-0 Class 5A-District 7) its second consecutive district title and the No. 1 seed in January’s district tournament. The win also keeps the Royal Knights atop the Sunshine Athletic Conference standings. Land O’ Lakes drops to 8-5-1 overall and 5-2 in the five-team district. Both of the Gators’ district losses were to River Ridge.

Rossi’s game-winning goal, her second this season against Land O’ Lakes, came after the Gators were whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area. Her first attempt at the penalty shot was good but Land O’ Lakes goalie Sarah Saavedra was called for leaving the goal line before the shot was attempted. Rossi put her second attempt in the same place—upper right corner of the net—for the winner.

As heavy fog covered the field at the start, River Ridge jumped out to a quick lead—scoring goals in the 1st and 6th minutes of the game. Brittany Mascia scored on the opening possession and Mikaela Morolla, who assisted on the Mascia goal, scored to put the Royal Knights ahead, 2-0.

But the Gators weren’t about to lay down. Amanda Goble, who scored Land O’ Lakes only goal in Monday’s 1-1 tie against Mitchell, got the Gators on the board in the 9th minute with a 40-yard free kick that arched over the head of River Ridge goalie Brittany Hahn.

Land O’ Lakes tied the score at 2-2 when a misplayed header in the penalty box landed on Claire Kurlychek foot and she dribbled the ball into the net in the 34th minute.

Both teams traded possessions and scoring chances in the second half but couldn’t find the back of the net until Rossi’s penalty kick.

Land O’ Lakes 2 0—2
River Ridge 2 1—3

Goals—Goble, Kurlychek (LL); Mascia, Morolla, Rossi (RR). Assists—Morolla, Rossi (RR). Shots on goal—LL 14, RR 16. Saves—Saavedra (LL) 5; Hahn (RR) 7. Records—LL 8-5-1, RR 13-0.