LAKELAND — Senior Sylvia Rodriguez has been on Victory Christian since the seventh grade, and fellow senior Hayden Fullwood has been there since the sixth grade. They’ve seen the program go from winning during the regular season but was a one-and-done nonfactor in the postseason to a program that was on the verge of the Final Four last year, losing in the regional finals.
With this being their last season, their goal is to take that next step. Their playoff run began as they helped lead Victory Christian over St. Edwards, 8-0, Monday afternoon in the Class 1A, Region 2 quarterfinals.
Victory Christian had to regroup after it squander a two-goal lead before losing to all Saints 4-3 in overtime in the district championship match.
“After the All Saints game we were pretty defeated, but we never took it out on each other,” Rodriguez said. “We always held each other accountable. If the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, we kind of let our hopes get up because we were up in the lead. But I think after that we really reflected over that game as a team as a whole, and we’re ready. We want to see them in the region final.”
Rodriguez is one of the leading players for Victory Christian and has a big role. With last year’s county player of the year Addie Lemmond, a center back, now in college, the Storm are more offense-oriented, and Rodriguez has led the way.
“It gets scary at moments because you never know what’s going to happen, but I think we had a good season of holding it up,” Rodriguez said.
Including her goal against St. Edwards, she now has 17 goals for the season. But she’s more than a goal-scorer.
In the first half, she peppered the opposing goal with shots but hit the post at least four time and was wide. So she became a playmaker.
With Victory leading 1-0 after seventh-grader Olivia Enechukwu broke through late in the first half, Rodriguez became a playmaker. She set up Kinley Hunter with a beautiful cross then hit a perfect pass to spring Hunter for the Storm’s third goal.
It’s not just the loss of Lemmond that makes the team different than last year. Of the top goal-scorers last season, only Rodriguez remained in her same role. Freshman Mackenzie Purdie and seventh-grader Olivia Enechuwu have made an impact on offense with Rodriguez. Both players along with Hunter each finished with two goals against St. Edwards. The young players’ development has allowed Fullwood to adjust her role and give a veteran presence as a defensive midfielder.
“I’m definitely more defensive this year, but it works,” Fullwood said. “Whatever we got to do to win, that’s what we take on.”
Seeing their younger teammates thrive excites the seniors.
“We just want to keep growing, to keep this program not be just about winning or being the best team out there, but being a team that a players wants to play for,” Fullwood said. “That’s what we’re all about. That’s what Coach D (Delisle Edoizin, former coach) was all about was just enjoy the game.”
Assistant coach Jamie Lemmond has seen both seniors grow into leaders after he took over as head coach when Edoizin died before stepping down to be the assistant this season.
“This whole offseason, she dedicated herself in the weight room, changed her diet, trained differently,” he said of Fullwood. “She wanted it.”
Rodriguez also has taken another step.
“Sylvia has always played hard,” Lemmond said. “Now, she’s leading. She’s talking quietly to people. She’s loving on girls when the make mistakes. So it’s the senior. That senior year rolls around and all of a subdued you realize, you’re the one. You’re the Addie. Your’e the leader. Hayden, she’s been dong that forever, but it’s definitely an area of growth for Sylvia.”
The duo’s goal is to lead Victory Christian back to a potential rematch against All Saints then on to the state tournament. But the Storm face a tough battle in the regional semifinals against Pine at 3 p.m. on Feb. 9.
1A-2 All Saints cruises
All Saints did its part to stay on course for the potential rematch by defeating Maitland Orangewood Christian, 4-0. Kaya Carll scored two goals, and Sydney Rasnake and Anya Riskin each had one goal. Riskin, Ava Trimm and Julia Marra Andrade each and one assist.
All Saints will play host to Seffner Christian at 7 p.m on Feb. 9 in the regional semifinals.
2A-3: Lakeland Christian, Santa Fe Catholic advance to semis
Lakeland Christian and Santa Fe Catholic finished step one in their drive to meet again in the regional finals.
Battling injuries, Lakeland Christian (16-1-3) routed Ridgeview Global Studies (9-5-4), 8-0. Already without top defender EC Bentley, who has signed with Charleston Southern, the Vikings held out Brooklyn Strawbridge, another top player, who is battling a pulled hamstring. LCS coach Jason Streets is hopeful that Strawbridge will be ready for next week’s regional semifinals.
Katie Coleman scored there goals, Allie Williams had one goal with three assists, Ellie Cox had one goal with two assists, and Kendall Reber had one goal and one assist. Emmie Williams and Libery Allen also scored, and Charity Allen added an assist.
Santa Fe Catholic (15-2-1) had a tougher battle but prevailed over Carrolwood Day, 3-2.
Victoria Pinzas scored had a goal and an assist. Copelan Collany scored, and Scarlet Reyes also scored.
Lakeland Christian will play host to St. Petersburg Catholic, and Santa Fe Catholic will play host to Berkeley Prep (12-4-3). Both games are 7 p.m. on Feb. 9.
3A-2: McKeel rallies past Holy Names
Tampa Holy Names jumps to a two-goal halftime lead but McKeel rallied in the second half for a 3-2 victory in the regional quarterfinals.
Now the playoff get even tougher as McKeel travel to Orlando to play Lake Highland Prep at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Sylvia Rodriguez, Hayden Fullwood lead Victory Christian soccer for playoff run
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
