For 60-plus minutes, the P.K. Yonge girls soccer team went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked Montverde Academy in an FHSAA Class 3A state semifinal at Lake Myrtle Sports Park (Soccer Stadium Field) in Auburndale.

However, a late surge led by Estefania Gonzalez with bookend goals lifted the Eagles (17-4-1) to a 3-0 win, ending the Lady Blue Wave’s season at 16-4-3.

Both teams had a common opponent this year in nationally ranked Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which defeated P.K. Yonge, 5-1, on Dec. 11, but lost at Montverde Academy, 2-1, two days prior. 

P.K. Yonge coach Rebecca Schackow said her team was ready.

“We knew we were getting into probably our toughest challenge of the season, probably equally challenging as Bartram Trail, but then add an element of it, it’s the playoffs and there is a trophy on the line or it could be your last game, which for us it was today, so that little element makes it more challenging,” she said.

Their game plan of being “defensive-minded” to stick with the Eagles’ top players and scorers was effective. 

At the halfway point of the second half, they had kept the Eagles off the scoreboard.

“I thought we played really well, really tough,” Schackow said. “I think we surprised them a little bit. Their demeanor changed in how they approached the game. You could tell that after they finally scored they could take a deep breath, it gave them momentum, and they started attacking really hard after that.”

But there were a couple of times when it served as a double-edged sword.

Following a free kick opportunity for Montverde Academy, the Lady Blue Wave came up with a steal that led to a 4-on-2 fast break.

But they were unable to get a shot on goal.

“We were playing set back on purpose because we just knew physically that would be the way that we could hang the longest, so we played more defensive-minded for most of the game, and so then counter attacks, even though we did have some, it was just hard to really get up there and get a good shot on goal or a good attack attempt.”

P.K. Yonge only had three shots on goal, while Montverde Academy had 18, including 12 in the second half.

“They were relentless, they found a way in the last 20 minutes,” Schackow said. “We were exhausted by the end, and they capitalized on any error we made in that last 20 minutes. Hats off to them. That’s the kind of program they are. They’re able to do that.”

Still scoreless at the second half hydration break, the Eagles scored in the 62nd minute on a goal from long-range left side by Gonzalez for a 1-0 lead in what would prove to be the game-winner.

Sophomore goalkeeper Norah Pancoast finished with nine saves.

Junior Mae Dodd, sophomore Paulina Cervantes, and 8th-grader Lily “T” Tomlinson all had shots for P.K. Yonge, which was playing in its first final four in program history.

“A great season, so exciting to make school history,” Schackow said. “Very proud of our entire program, our school, but especially the players for how hard they worked to achieve this. We’re very grateful for the experience and the opportunity. We didn’t want to leave today…the whole setting, the whole experience has just been outstanding.”