Preview: Lourdes Still Miami-Dade's Girls Soccer Favorite

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Our Lady of Lourdes girls' soccer team is motivated more than ever coming off a state runner-up finish.

The Bobcats may have graduated 10 seniors – Including three starters – off last year's 23-2 squad, but they return enough depth and talent to again challenge for a state title that has proven elusive for Dade County teams.

Since 1993, Dade has won only one girls' soccer state title. Hialeah-Miami Lakes won the large school classification title. Coral Gables and Miami Springs won in 1982 and 1988 when girls' soccer was in one classification.

Our Lady of Lourdes, with a strong winning tradition in soccer, lost for the second time in a state final to Oviedo, 3-1, for the Class 5A title. The Bobcats fell behind three goals early in the game and couldn't dig themselves out of a hole.

"The girls are hungry," said Our Lady of Lourdes fourth-year head coach Ramiro Vengoechea. "They are definitely motivated to get back to the state championship.

"For the most part, it is the same group from last year with a lot of returning players. They come focus and are ready to play. They are getting ready for the post-season which is crunch time for us."

Since 2003, Our Lady of Lourdes has advanced into the state semifinals five times and made it to the regional round every season in the last 13 years.

"In a state championship game you just cannot make mistakes," Vengoechea said. "Oviedo is a very good team and took advantage of our mistakes. We created their opportunities.

"I am proud of my girls. It was a great season. Getting to a state final is difficult. These girls know how to get there and they are going to work hard for another chance."

Our Lady of Lourdes is off to a good start to the 2016-17 season with a 7-1 record, losing only to perennial powerhouse and undefeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-0, in a non-conference game.

"For 20 minutes the game was 0-0 and we were playing them well," Vengoechea said. "After the water break we had a player get hurt and they scored and our girls may have gotten rattled. We just had a bad day. St. Thomas is a very good team with two of the best players in the state."

The bulk of the Bulldogs' top scorers return. Senior midfielder Natalie Silberman, junior midfielder Niki Molina and sophomore forward Victoria Munoz combined for 50 goals and 32 assists last season.

The defense is just as talented with goalkeeper Amanda Puig, who had 19 shutouts, and defenders Sofia Hillman, a junior, and Olivia Candela, a senior.

"Our girls know how to win," Vengoechea said. "They want to get back to the state final."

There is plenty of talent returning in Dade County with post-season experience.

Gulliver Prep (16-3-1) was a state semifinalist, losing to Orlando Bishop Moore, 4-0. It was the Raiders first state tournament appearance since 2013. The Raiders were hoping to win their second state title after winning in 2011.

Also in 2A, Carrollton (15-2) was a region quarterfinalist.

In 5A competition, Coral Reef (11-6-1) made it to the region quarterfinals before losing. It was the Barracudas' second region playoff appearance in six years. Rival Palmetto (18-1) was a region semifinalist. Coral Gables (16-6-2) was a region quarterfinalist.

Terra was a regional quarterfinalist in Class 4A. Miami Springs (15-5) was a region quarterfinalist in Class 3A. Miami Country Day (15-8) was a region semifinalist, Palmer Trinity (12-6) was a region semifinalist, Archimedean (13-6-1) was a region quarterfinalist, all in Class 1A competition.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Archimedean: Emely Acobo, Tatiana Mancera, Jaylene Trujillo.

Braddock: Jillian Falcon, Nicole Caldera, Adrianna Hernandez.

Carrollton: Michelle Diaz-Silveira, Sydney Sariol, Virginia Moscetti, Drew Wells, Marian Alcantar.

Coral Gables: Amy Ransom, Kayla Ferra, Amy Perez, Brianna De La Osa, Kiayra Arnold, Cecilia Rodriguez, Jimena Sanchez-Roselly.

Coral Park: Carolina Dominguez, Natalie Diaz, Estrellita Torres.

Coral Reef: Bianca Mandrini, Paige Nunez, Tatiana Rodriguez, Montana Ligman, Raquel Berry, Marissa Coppola.

Divine Savior: Sofia Vasquez, Mariantonia Gutierrez, Sofia Soto, Ghalia Riviere, Valentina Guillen, Isabella Spizucco.

Ferguson: Nicole Bovo, Adonna Edwards, Savannah Ward, Emily Arias, Ashley Acevedo, Adonna Edwards.

Gulliver Prep: Monica Zabian, Brianna Austin, Nina Fernandez, Samantha Earle.

LaSalle: Karina Santin, Stephanie Cuan, Nicole Maribona, Shayna Welsh, Marie Muniz.

Mast Academy: Daniella Clavijo.

Mater Academy: Karla Vargas, Amanda Diaz, Madison Delucca, Sarah Aponte, Melanie Chiquillo, Emily Tercero.

Miami Beach: Samantha Wald.

Miami Country Day: Amanda Martin, Ava Hansen, Danielle Geathers, Laurel Ivory.

Miami Springs: Katherine Inhoof, Sophia Gomez, Brianna Gomez.

Our Lady of Lourdes: Natalie Silberman, Amanda Puig, Victoria Munoz, Niki Molina, Sofia Hillman, Olivia Candela.

Palmer Trinity: Sofia Rivas, Victoria Rosales, Dani Gomez, Georgia Malueg, Paula Gutierrez, Maia Wenger.

Palmetto: Emily Lamas, Sydney Denkert, Bari Gold, Mary Frachesci, Sophia Bainger, Audrey Paz.

Ransom Everglades: Tiffany McBrayer, Erin Bakes.

Sr. Brendan: Isabella Gonzalez, Alexa Dussaq, Isabella Gonzalez, Adriana Diaz, Jessica Botero, Elisa Hussain, Kristen Maestu.

South Dade: Kayla Jackson, Amber Tam, Adriana Arroyo, Bianca Carballo, Kiara Steele, Ashley Eichler.

South Miami: Pamela Ataya, Vielka Ortega, Adrianna Ramos, Alexandra Lopez.

Terra: Sofia Aviles, Karina Bermudez.

Varela: Daniella Correa, Karina Medina, Alexandra Luna, Valentina Valbuena, Cindy Montoya, Nicole Holguin.

DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS
Class 5A: Oviedo
Class 4A: Melbourne Viera
Class 3A: American Heritage Plantation
Class 2A: Jacksonville Bolles
Class 1A: Orange Park St. Thomas Country Day

KEY DATES
Dec. 1, Our Lady of Lourdes at South Miami, 2 p.m.
Dec. 12, Our Lady of Lourdes at Coral Park, 2 p.m.
Dec. 16, Our Lady of Lourdes at American Heritage, 5 p.m.
Jan. 9, Our Lady of Lourdes vs. Gulliver Prep at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9, Westminster Christian at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9, Our Lady of Lourdes vs. Gulliver Prep at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12, Our Lady of Lourdes at Douglas, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14, Pine Crest at Gulliver Prep, 2 p.m.
Jan. 16-21, District tournaments
Jan. 26, Region tournament quarterfinals
Jan. 31, Region tournament semifinals
Feb. 3, Region tournament finals
Feb. 8-11, State Championships