Lourdes Bobcats win second state soccer title

By Lynn Ramsey - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | As a sophomore in 2018, Mia Atrio was one of many stars when Our Lady of Lourdes Academy won its first state title. As a senior, Atrio led the Bobcats to their second state title, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory Feb. 28, 2020 in the Class 6A girls soccer state final.

The victory caps a run that also includes a 2017 state semifinal and 2019 region final finish.

Coach Ramiro Vengoechea calls this year’s Bobcats the most resilient team he’s had at Lourdes. “I could use the evidence of us having to come back in every single game but the state championship,” he said. “We were down one goal – or in some cases two goals – and either tied the game or won the game. That grit, that resilience was evident in that group. That was the main difference versus any group in years past.”

                       

SENIORS FOR THE WIN

Lourdes didn’t have to rally in the state final against Venice. Both goals came off a strategy that worked all year – moving the ball wide, then sending crossing passes to players making runs into the box. Senior forward Francesca De Zendegui scored first for the Bobcats, turning an assist from senior defender Sophia Rivas into a goal in the 21st minute. Vengoechea said that Rivas went wide, shook a defender, then put the ball in front of the goal. De Zendegui headed the pass into the goal.

Venice’s Kiersten Slattery tied the game with a goal in the 38th minute.

Atrio put the Bobcats ahead for good in similar fashion in the 45th minute. Senior defender Isabel Guisasola made a run down the right side. Atrio, coming in from the left wing, made a penetrating run to get in front of the defender. Guisasola then found Atrio for the winning goal.

After that, the Bobcats turned to their defense to secure the victory. Goalie Mia Alexander had five saves. Vengoechea said that sophomore center midfielder Sammy Diaz led the defense, with junior Alexa Sanchez and Guisasola also shining on defense.

Vengoechea also lauded sophomore Maya Rionda, who started at center back after junior center back Caro Prieto tore her anterior-cruciate ligament in a 4-2 double-overtime semifinal victory over Viera. Sophomore Maya Rionda, who was a substitute most of the season, was thrust into the starting lineup for the state final to replace Prieto.

“She stepped in and was huge in that game,” he said. “It was a lot of credit to her to step in in the state final. She was asked to do a job and did a great job.”

 

ALL ABOUT TEAM

Vengoechea said that last year’s Lourdes team, with 10 seniors, relied heavily on Atrio. But after Cypress Bay neutralized the Bobcats in the region final last year, Lourdes needed to play a much more collective game.

“From the beginning of the year, we needed to be better and get more players involved,” Vengoechea said. “We did a good job sprinkling in a forward by committee. “We didn’t have just one center forward. We had several girls give us different looks.”

Atrio, one of seven seniors on this year’s team, has been a prolific goal-scorer since she arrived at Lourdes. As a sophomore, she had 24 goals and 15 assists. In 2020, Atrio finished with 30 goals and 11 assists. But she wasn’t the only threat on offense this year. Freshman midfielder Coco Aguilar had 14 goals and 10 assists. Senior Mia Briones had 10 goals and 14 assists. Senior forward Sophia McMillan had nine goals and 11 assists.

Alexander backstopped a defense that posted 13 shutouts. Center back Alexa Sanchez also shined on defense. Vengoechea said Guisasola also sparked the Bobcats on offense and defense, saying she’s big, athletic and strong. “She provides a lot of that engine to go up and down the line to get crosses into the box.”

He added, “When you have players who can come off the bench and support the team idea, that’s important. You aren’t depending on just one player.”

That team concept received test after test all year. Lourdes’ only losses were 1-0 defeats to defending champion Plantation American Heritage on Nov. 26 and Class 5A champion Archbishop McCarthy on Jan. 23, just before the district tournament. (Click on link for McCarthy's championship story.)

Lourdes toughened its schedule not only to test its players. The FHSAA changed its playoff format, seeding teams according to MaxPreps.com’s rankings. Those rankings placed greater value on strength of schedule. Vengoechea attributes that schedule for strengthening their resilience.

“We were in four games last year that had adversity – those 1-1, 0-0 games,” he said. “This year, we had 10 of those.”

Those games helped the Bobcats figure out where they needed to improve. The challenges also prepared Lourdes for the tougher games that awaited in the playoffs.

Vengoechea said the Bobcats dominated their regular-season finale against Archbishop McCarthy, even though they lost 1-0. “Even though we lost that game, we knew we could hang with anybody,” he said.

That resilience received its toughest test against Viera. The Bobcats trailed 1-0 most of the game after scoring off a penalty kick. Lourdes tied it 1-1 with 8 minutes left, but Viera answered off a free kick to go ahead 2-1. Then the Bobcats scored in the final minutes to force overtime.

“We went against the wind the first overtime, and nothing happened. We tried to be as defensive as possible,” Vengoechea said. “In the second overtime, when we went with the wind, we changed our formation. We went to an attacking formation and scored two goals. That’s one of the craziest games I’ve ever been a part of.”

Vengoechea also lauded the instruction of assistant coach David Fique, performance coach Anthony Hazelwood and goalkeeper coach Alexa Feijo. “Sometimes it’s a short season with a lot of things going on,” Vengoechea said. “I give them a lot of credit to be an incredible staff to work with. Nothing could’ve happened without their support.”

 

CRAVING A REPEAT

Lourdes’ chance at a repeat rests with not only the returning champions but also an infusion of new players who will be hungry to win it. Vengoechea said that Diaz will become the rock in the middle, while Sanchez and Alexander will lead the defense.

Aguilar will likely get the first chance at filling Atrio’s shoes, though Gracie DeArcos also will spark the attack. Vengoechea said an always-strong Bobcats’ junior varsity will also push the current veterans.

The graduation of seven seniors will also open some opportunities for those who bided their time. Vengoechea said those players are as talented as the seniors.

“We have the talent,” he said. “It’s not just about talent but having that craving and desire to win.”