Prep Report: Verot girls romp 8-0

MICHAEL PISTELLA Bishop Verot junior Megan Barton is in control at midfield against Dunbar in the Vikings’ 8-0 district victory Tuesday night over Dunbar. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The only suspense in Tuesday’s District 3A-10 soccer tournament match was when the host Bishop Verot Vikings would score their eighth goal against the overmatched Dunbar Tigers.
The Vikings had the match well in hand, after piling on seven goals in the first 20 minutes.
They barely missed on several other scoring chances over the next 18 minutes, when junior captain Kayley Clay finally found the back of the net with under two minutes remaining in the first half.
The game was over – and the teams shook hands – after one half of play, with the Vikings advancing to Thursday’s district championship match against Cardinal Mooney.
They figure to have more of a challenge waiting in that one. The Vikings lost 1-0 and tied 1-1 in two previous games with Mooney.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Bishop Verot junior Mary Keezel advances the ball against Dunbar Tuesday night. The Vikings advanced to the district championship game with an 8-0 victory.
“We’re still working, we’re still trying to make progress,” Vikings coach Randy Zavada said. “Offensively, we’ve been trying to find our footing after losing 80 percent of our scoring from last year.”
Last season the Vikings were led by standout Gina Petracco. Currently at FGCU, Petracco scored 48 goals in leading the team to an 18-2-3 record and a district championship.
The Vikings (11-5-1) are a young team this season, with only one returning senior, and have struggled to find offense at times.
They haven’t had much of a problem against Dunbar. Including Tuesday’s game, the Vikings won each of the three by a score of 8-0.
Dressed in black jerseys, the Vikings swarmed and applied relentless pressure in their offensive zone.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Bishop Verot junior Kayley Clay challenges for the ball with Dunbar’s Zulekya Castro (28) Tuesday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
Sophomore McKenna Duquette scored the first goal five minutes into the match and freshman Kady Otzko struck less than two minutes later, for a 2-0 lead.
Otzko, a freshman, has emerged as the team’s best offensive threat. She had two goals Tuesday, giving her a team-high 13 on the year.
Before the 20-minute water break, the Vikings had built a 7-0 lead. Duquette also scored twice, while senior Staci Lehnert, junior Megan Barton and freshman Lauren Cento each scored once.
Despite allowing eight goals, Dunbar senior goalkeeper Carina Coello made several sparkling saves. She finished with 30.
With the score 7-0, the Vikings had trouble getting the last one to force the halftime stoppage.
With eight minutes left in the half, Cento fed Kiran Sharma in front of the net, but Coello made the save.
She had a diving stop on a blast from Nicole Globetti with three minutes left in the half.
With under two minutes remaining, the Vikings capitalized when Clay worked the ball around three defenders and blasted a shot past Coello.
Clay displayed outstanding ball-handling throughout the game, finishing with one assist, while creating several other opportunities from her midfield spot.
Boys Soccer
Ida Baker 3, Cypress Lake 2: Facing a two-goal deficit with 10 minutes left, Ida Baker rallied to force a tie at Cypress Lake.
Cody Kluesner scored for the Bulldogs to cut the Panthers’ lead to 3-2 and Joe Johnson added the tying goal with only a minute remaining.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start, falling behind 2-0 on a cold night.
Nick Presti scored the first goal for Baker to jumpstart the attack. Brandon Stevens had two assists. Goalkeeper Jose Zuniga made nine saves.
The Bulldogs (8-7-3) play at South Fort Myers Wednesday.
- MICHAEL PISTELLA Bishop Verot junior Mary Keezel advances the ball against Dunbar Tuesday night. The Vikings advanced to the district championship game with an 8-0 victory.
- MICHAEL PISTELLA Bishop Verot junior Kayley Clay challenges for the ball with Dunbar’s Zulekya Castro (28) Tuesday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.