DELAND – After coming up short last season in the state semifinals in a 2-1 loss to Montverde, Bolles players vowed to not ever let that happen again.
A year later, Bolles masterfully dominated the defending state champions Oxbridge Academy (12-2-4) 4-0 to win the Class 2A state title at Spec Martin Stadium its third state title in four years and seventh overall.
Bolles coach Matt Tracy didn’t want to say it but hinted his girls soccer team may have felt a sense of entitlement and expected to be in the final again.
Fortunately his team responded well to the pressure and brought home the state title trophy for the third time in four years. With a little bit of luck, Bolles jumped on Oxbridge late in the first half and then pulled away in the second half to reclaim the state title again.
In the closing seconds of a scoreless first half, Olivia Candelino lofted a corner kick near the goal and teammate Avery Patterson fired a shot at the buzzer to give Bolles a stunning 1-0 lead at the half.
From there they came out with a lot more confidence and dominated the second half on their way to their third title in four years.
Ten minutes into the second half, Patterson was taken down inside the box and teammate Ariana Muñoz placed the penalty kick just inside the right corner to give Bolles a 2-0 lead over Oxbridge.
A few minutes later, Aunikah King broke free and put a shot in the right corner for a 3-0 lead for Bolles.
Under 15 minutes to play, Munoz sent a shot high over the keepers head and into the left corner for a 4-0 commanding lead over the defending state champions.
The win helped Bolles (21-6-2) end its tie with Delray American Heritage (6 titles) and move solely into fourth place all-time with its seventh overall girls state title, trailing only St. Thomas Aquinas (15), Plantation American Heritage (10) and St. Johns Country Day (10).
Quite different from a team who months ago, that was handled 4-1 to state power Montverde at the St. Johns tournament and seemed to be in no position to get back to the state championship game.
However, a 5-3 win over Merritt Island a night later might have been the spark the Bulldogs needed to get back on track for its seventh overall state title.
Bolles state titles
2018: Bolles 4, Oxbridge 0
2016: Bolles 4, Bishop Moore 1
2015: Bolles 5, Delray American Heritage 0
2008: Bolles 2, Lake Highland Prep 1
1997: Bolles 2, Gulliver Prep 0
1995: Bolles 3, Bishop Moore 0
1994: Bolles 2, Clearwater Central Catholic 1
