Lakewood Ranch focuses on quarterfinal match

The Lakewood Ranch Lady Mustangs may have missed out on collecting its sixth-straight Class 4A-District 11 championship after losing to Venice Jan. 16, but the team still has a chance to show their skills when they play Naples Gulf Coast in Naples Thursday in the regional quarterfinals.

With a younger team this year, Coach Guy Virgilio said he’s hoping his squad will have a short memory in terms of the loss and the resiliency to bounce back.

The Venice Indians moved the ball around well in the 4-0 upset against the top-seeded Mustangs, which were missing two key midfielders due to injuries — Maddison Krstec and Maria Gonzalez.

It was the first defeat of the season for the Lady Mustangs (19-1-2), which hadn't allowed a goal since Nov. 19.

The loss snapped the Mustangs' streak of five consecutive district championships and was the most goals allowed in a game this season (they had surrendered just six goals in the last 21 matches). Lakewood Ranch travels to Naples Gulf Coast Jan. 22 for the regional quarterfinals.

Prior to the loss, the Mustangs overcame various injuries and players out sick to secure a win over the North Port Bobcats during the 4A-11 semifinals Jan. 14 matchup.

Although he was happy to see his then-undefeated, top-seeded team advance, Virgilio told the girls their win against North Port wasn’t pretty.

“The control, the touch, just wasn’t there,” Virgilio said after the game.

Virgilio said the Jan. 16 loss to Venice, meanwhile, was a wakeup call for his team.

“We can still contend for the state title,” he said. “I know they can do better. I hope they’re angry enough to come out and play the game like I know they can.”