The Lake Minneola girls soccer team is headed to the regional playoffs after capturing the FHSAA 6A Region 1 District 4 championship, a major milestone for the Hawks program.

The district title is the program’s first since 2021 and its first regional appearance since the Hawks won the regional in 2022. Lake Minneola enters regional play as the No. 7 seed, carrying an impressive 14-1-3 record this season. The team’s lone loss came against Windermere, the 7A district champion.

Lake Minneola will travel north to face No. 2 seed Bartram Trail, ranked ninth overall in the state, on Thursday, Feb. 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7pm in Jacksonville.

Head coach Bryon Kelso said the team is embracing the challenge that comes with postseason play in one of the state’s toughest regions.

“We are a little disappointed we do not get to host a regional playoff game after winning our district, but also respect that we are located within a very tough region and ready for the challenge,” Coach Kelso says. “We have played a lot of home games this year and were blessed to win districts on our home field. I think the girls are actually excited about a road trip on Thursday. They really enjoy being together, so we are excited about the trip and the challenge to see where we stand in the region among the best in the state.”

Several underclassmen have played key roles in the Hawks’ postseason push. Freshman Emma Henne has emerged as a critical presence in the center midfield, helping control the pace of play and leading the team’s transition game. While her impact does not always show up in the stat line, Emma has scored three goals in the past three games and has set the competitive tone since winter break.

Sophomore Chelsea Clarke has delivered in crucial moments, scoring five goals over the past five games, many of them coming when Lake Minneola needed them most.

In goal, freshman Ella Tabone has anchored the defense, recording 10 shutouts this season. Ella also came up big in the district championship match against Horizon, stopping three penalty kicks in the shootout to secure the title.

Team captains Cali Pulver, Marley Greene and Auna Rowe have helped guide the Hawks throughout the season. Rowe leads the team offensively with 19 goals and eight assists. Fellow starters Emma Wasilewski, Austin Krepcho, Eliz Hernandez, Emma Gosselin and Luna Valdes round out a lineup that Kelso says is eager for the challenge ahead.

Depth has also been a strength for Lake Minneola, with Brianna Melger Jerez, who scored the game-winning penalty kick against Horizon, along with Sophie Scott, Xylah Rodriguez, Taralyn Bolden, Sydney Toler, Gaby Martinez, Bella Mathews, Francesca Guadamuz, Diasy Fernandez, Reagan Krepcho, Ivy Valenta, Yaya Davila, Gigi Doll and Grace Loftis all expected to be ready to make an impact in regional play.

With momentum from a district championship, the Hawks now turn their focus to Jacksonville, where they will test themselves against one of Florida’s top-ranked teams with a spot in the regional semifinals on the line.