Archbishop McCarthy seniors reach fourth state final in four years

By Lynn Ramsey - Florida Catholic

DELAND | “This senior class, they’re the first one in school history to go to the Final Four four years in a row. That’s all they know.”

Those words by coach Mike Sica barely scratch the surface of what the six seniors in the Class of 2021 meant to Archbishop McCarthy girls soccer. The Mavericks’ state-title defense ended March 5, 2021, in a 2-0 defeat to Ponte Vedra, but their seniors capped their careers with three consecutive state finals.

Sica lauded the senior class of Liliana Katz, Adriana Duque, Brown University signee Kimberly Cover, Jessica Gonzalez, Madison Burkhard and Jordyn Gifford not only as soccer players but as people. “I hope all the younger girls watch them, the way they carry themselves, because they set a great example – all six of them,” Sica said.

Katz called her time at Archbishop McCarthy “the greatest four years of my life, even though I’m walking away from soccer now. It’s been fun. It’s been fast.”

Duque said despite coming from several different middle schools, the seniors are like sisters. After their last practice before the state final, they left the field in tears. “I’m going to have separation anxiety from them, because they’re my best friends and my sisters,” Duque said.

She called the four years a growing period – one that was nourished by building on each year. They lost to Estero 5-4 in the 2018 state semifinals. The next year, the Mavericks held national power Montverde to one goal in a 1-0 loss. Then they beat Ponte Vedra 2-0 for the 2020 crown.

“We came back and we wanted it so bad, because we grew and grew,” Duque said. “We took everything into accountability, and we learned and we got a state championship. My seniors from last year went out with a bang. This year was a growing period, and I couldn’t be any more prouder because we got here.”

 

SHARKS COUNTERATTACK VS MCCARTHY

Ponte Vedra entered DeLand’s Spec Martin Stadium with a vengeance in this year’s final, winning because of midfield strength. Sica said the Sharks overloaded the midfield, so the Mavericks tried to throw another player in to counteract. The Mavericks sent forwards back into the midfield, but they couldn’t connect passes, giving Ponte Vedra chances to counterattack.

“Maybe we’d get overwhelmed by the moment or the situation or we’d get antsy, and we’d pass the ball away. We just weren’t able to keep it,” Sica said. “By giving the ball back to them, it was just a snowball effect. Of course, when they got the lead, it played into their strength.”

Ponte Vedra took the lead in the 19th minute when Ella Shapiro ran to the left side of the penalty area and sent a cross to Tamlyn Parkes. She beat McCarthy keeper Paloma Pena just inside the right post for a 1-0 lead. Shapiro connected with Parkes again in the 46th minute, with Parkes sending a shot past Pena for a 2-0 Ponte Vedra lead.

The Mavericks tried to press more after falling 2-0. Brisa Sastre sent a 40-yard shot wide. Merchan narrowly missed wide left just outside the penalty area in the 60th minute. Two minutes later, Sophia Goetz had a shot from 15 yards out, but Ponte Vedra keeper Audrey Johnson made the save.

Pena also made several saves to keep Archbishop McCarthy within reach. She had three saves for the match.

Duque said the Mavericks were trying to force the Sharks into tighter space, but the Sharks would go to the spread to succeed on the counterattack. “They dominated the midfield, then we dominated, then they dominated,” Duque said. “It went back and forth. Then again, the score was 2-0. Well-deserved to them.”

 

COVID, INJURIES TEST MAVERICKS

This year’s Mavericks finished 18-5-1. That the team even had a season was amazing, considering Archbishop McCarthy had to manage building a team during a worldwide pandemic. Katz said that Archbishop McCarthy girls soccer is like a family. She said the team put their all into every practice and every game.

“We buy into the McCarthy culture,” Katz said. “It’s all about this team, it’s not individual. It’s more than a team, it’s a family. We work for each other. We have each other’s back. Even the coaches are the greatest people we could ever have.”

That growing period occurred because the Mavericks had to replace 10 seniors from the state championship team. They turned to the six seniors to lead the way. Katz said the Class of 2021 players knew that they’d have to work hard to build success – and they’d have to impart that work ethic to new players.

They turned to sophomores such as midfielder Isabella Merchan and freshmen Francesca Durand and Faith Espiritusanto to fill in the gaps. Sica called Merchan one of the bright spots, because of her soccer smarts. “We’re a young team; you have to start somewhere,” Duque said. “I couldn’t be any prouder, because they stepped up and did their job.”

Those newcomers were forced to play a big role, because four Mavericks went down to injury since the start of the season. Both Isa Brelage and Jazmin Herrera suffered anterior-cruciate-ligament tears within 72 hours of each other near the start of the district tournament.

“For every team, it wasn’t easy. Every team had to deal with COVID situations, with quarantines and that type of stuff,” Sica said. “We did the best we could. We thrive on being prepared for problems and dealing with them. Over the last several years, we’ve had plenty of issues, and this year’s no different.”

Duque said the team lost three weeks of practice due to quarantines. Further COVID issues forced the Mavericks at times to practice with as few as eight players. Then they had to play with masks until the playoffs.

The schedule tested the players. They built their team by facing state finalists Delray Beach American heritage, Cardinal Gibbons and Fort Myers Canterbury – teams they went 0-2-1 against. Those challenges prepared the Mavericks to sweep through the District 15-5A tournament and advance to the state final with three shutouts.

 

SHARING THE FAITH DESPITE COVID

Despite COVID, the team still took opportunities to grow in the faith. The Mavericks couldn’t host the summer camp for kids they normally host, but they still did a food drive. The team raised donations, then bought thousands of pounds of food to give to the needy.

The team also adjusted their Christmas charity work. They couldn’t do a food drive over Christmas, so they opted to give Christmas gifts to needy families instead. That included a gift-wrapping party on the field. “We were really creative with the way we were able to help people and show what the team is really about,” Sica said.

Katz said the Archbishop McCarthy players also worked with the Boys and Girls Clubs this year.

Duque said that the faith-building goes into game days. The team prays before each game. “I praise the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s my savior,” Duque said. “He was what got us here. We played every game. We are thankful for him. It all goes to him.”

 

WORKING ON ANOTHER RUN?

With most of the team slated to return, the Mavericks stand a good chance to return to the state finals in 2022. Goetz, who scored a team-high 12 goals this season, returns up front in addition to Durand and Bella Rocco (five goals). Pena, Sastre and Espiritusanto will be tasked with leading the defense, while Merchan returns in the midfield.

Katz said she challenged the returnees to win another title. Duque challenged the newcomers to grow, learn and have fun. She ultimately wants them to have the same family experience that she had as a Maverick.

“I want to leave a family feeling, because being a Lady Maverick, that’s my family,” Duque said. “I want them to grow and have fun and get to a state championship, so I can come back and watch them.”