The Patriots earned a third-straight trip to the state semifinals with an 18-10 win in a second round play-in game at Lake Highland Prep on Friday.

Chelsea Pinneke scored two goals inside the opening five minutes to give the Patriots an early lead and the Highlanders were unable to recover.

Caroline Lamere, last season’s area player of the year, led the attack with four goals and four assists while Katie Trahanas added four goals and an assist. Pinneke and Jackie Schaefer finished with three goals each in the win.

Twice Lake Brantley held 10-point leads in the second half after building an 8-2 advantage at the break, but second-year coach Hanna Hopkins sees more work to be done moving forward in regards to the team’s draw controls and ground balls.

“Not our best game. But it’s a win, so we’ll take it,” said Hopkins, who played on the 2001 Patriots’ state title team before going on to play for the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

Former high school teammates of Hopkins, Casey Foote and Aubrey White, join former Gator goalie Jen Dunham on the coaching staff.

Lake Brantley (15-3) finished runners-up in the state a year ago. They’ll now meet up with Park Vista on Friday at West Orange High School for the chance to return to the title game. Winter Springs plays Vero Beach in the other semifinal.

The state championship game is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 at 5 p.m. at West Orange.

“We’ve been working since the state championship ended last year to have another chance at next weekend,” said Hopkins. “And we have the team to do it. It’s just a matter of getting it done.”

Trahanas leads the team with 66 goals on the year while midfielders Pinneke and Kaleigh Henry are considered two of the biggest threats on either ends of the field. Senior goalie Heather Gable has benefited from the protection of defenders Christina Monahan and Amira El-Behiri.

Lake Highland Prep (11-6) entered the contest having pulled out close wins over Timber Creek and Bishop Moore to keep its season alive by way of a vastly improved defensive unit.

But they played with their back against the wall for much of the night on Friday as they were overwhelmed early on by swift passes and quick strikes by the Patriots.

Before the game, second-year head coach Amy Demers said the team was well aware of whom they were in comparison to the ever-consistent Patriots, and that after the initial goal of winning a district title (following a two-year drought) was reached, that “everything else is sort of icing on the cake.”

Tyler Thomas led the Highlanders with three goals in the final game of the season. Polly Peck and Elyese Johnson each scored twice. Other players coming up big for LHP this year were Kellie Mitchell and Lauren Gierke.

–– Class 2A ––

An experienced boys team at Lake Mary recorded a 583 score over two days (300, 283) thanks to a solid showing in the second day of competition at Silver Springs Shores (Par 72) in Ocala to beat out Stuart Martin County (581), Weston Cypress Bay (596), Fort Walton Beach (604) and Olympia (605).

- 2A Boys – Team Scores

Leading Lake Mary, and all other golfers in the state, was senior Han Kim with a phenomenal 9-under par score of 135 (70, 65). Olympia’s Joey Petronio tied for second in the state with a 3-under score of 141 (73, 68) at the tournament.

- 2A Boys – Individual Scores

With three freshman and two seniors on its girls golf team Lake Mary wrapped up the state title by eight strokes over Melbourne Viera, 625-633, at the 72-par Ocala Golf Club. Plant City Durant (652) came in third followed by Gulf Breeze (655), Timber Creek (667) and Olympia (670).

- 2A Girls – Team Scores

Lake Mary was led by senior Jessica Schall, who shot a 70 and 76 to tie for seventh in the individual standings. Winter Park senior Brandi Rodriguez tied for second in the state with a 2-under par score of 142 (72, 70).

- 2A Girls – Individual Scores

–– Class 1A ––

The Trinity Prep boys golf team finished in a fourth-place tie with Ocala Trinity Catholic in the team standings at the 72-par Juliette Falls in Dunnellon with a score of 606 after shooting 303 during both days of competition. North Palm Beach Benjamin took the championship with a 580 score followed by Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (589) and West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (590).

- 1A Boys – Team Scores

Trinity Prep was led by sophomore Collin Engelhardt, who finished tied for 12^th overall with Circle Christian freshman Ryan Stovash. They both shot a 3-over total of 147.

- 1A Boys – Individual Scores

The young girls squad at Lake Highland Prep took fourth place with a 629 score behind Plantation American Heritage (590), St. Petersburg Northside Christian (603) and Naples Community School (626) at the 72-par Golden Hills Gold & Turf Club in Ocala.

- 1A Girls – Team Scores

Sophomore Mary Fran Hillow led a Lake Highland team that featured two sophomores, two freshmen and a sixth-grader as she shot a 78 and 70 to tie for ninth overall. Lake Nona freshman Ashley Holder tied for third in the state with a 1-under par score of 143 (73, 70) while Orlando Circle Christian sixth-grader Abbey Carlson shot 1-over par to tie for sixth with a 145 score.

- 1A Girls – Individual Scores

–– More FHSAA State Championship golf coverage ––

Video recap of boys golf at Varsity Sports

Video recap of girls golf at Varsity Sports

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

Becca Thomas

1.) Becca Thomas – UCF Knights – She did it again. One week after being named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for scoring two game-winning goals, senior Becca Thomas went back-to-back by netting two more game-winners against Rice and Houston (three goals in all) as the Knights got two wins each by a score of 2-1. The nine game-winners by Thomas ranks No. 6 all-time in program history. At 12-3-1 overall and 7-1-0 in C-USA the Knights have moved up to No. 4 in the recent NCAA Ratings Percentage Index report and are ranked in the Top 16 of three different women’s college soccer polls.

2.) Mike Dorcely – Lake Highland Prep Highlanders – Just a freshman, Mike Dorcely is already in his second season as a starter at Lake Highland Prep where last Friday night he scored three touchdowns and intercepted two passes to lead the No. 5 Highlanders (in Class 2B) to a 24-0 win over Mount Dora. Dorcely, described as an energetic and exciting kid with a passion for the game by LHP head coach Tim Borcky, took an interception 99 yards for a score and crossed the goal line on a pass play of 42 yards and a run of 25 yards in the win.

3.) Brooks Bollinger – Florida Tuskers – After completing his first 11 passes of the game last week in Las Vegas, quarterback Brooks Bollinger finished the night 24 of 32 passing for 310 yards and three touchdowns in Florida’s 29-15 win over the Locomotives. Bollinger completed passes to 10 different receivers on the night to help the Tuskers improve to 2-0 and sit alone atop the four-team United Football League. The Tuskers return to action on Thursday night at Florida Citrus Bowl.

Torrell Troup (Photo by Scott McCall)

4.) Felipe Quiroga – Timber Creek Wolves – By scoring a 2-under par on Monday at Timacuan Golf Club in the Class 2A, District 7 boys golf tournament, Felipe Quiroga helped Timber Creek High School capture its first district title. His round of 70 was also the best performance of the day among the district competition. The Wolves, who outdid Winter Park and Ocoee at the event, move on to compete at the regional tournament on Monday at Windermere Country Club.

5.) Torrell Troup – UCF Knights – It was announced on Tuesday that 6-3, 314 pound senior defensive tackle Torrell Troup will represent the UCF Knights at the annual East-West Shrine Game in January at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Troup has demanded double-teams his entire career and was already being looked at by NFL scouts. He has helped the Knights defense rank No. 10 nationally in rushing defense and tackles-for-loss and No. 11 nationally in sacks. Troup has freed himself on the football field enough to record 20 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack this season.

More – Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09

Lake Highland –

The Highlanders turned two onside kicks into touchdowns in the third quarter to build a 35-19 lead Friday night. Those plays came after trailing 19-13 at the break. Lake Highland’s defense had to turn away a feisty fourth quarter push to help ensure a perfect start to the season.

- Senior QB Bobby Borcky – The leader of LHP’s option offense helped moved the ball along with quick decisions, several runs of nine yards or more, and a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone in the opening quarter.

- Senior RB/DB Zack McCarrell – On the first play from scrimmage he took the handoff and sped 62 yards for a touchdown. He would go on to score again on runs of 70 and eight yards in the second half. He also pulled down an interception with a minute remaining to close the gate on Jones’ comeback. An open-field tackle he made in the final seconds of the first half proved to be a touchdown-saver.

- Senior LB/TE Jason Root – Put the ball on the ground twice but provided plenty of positives on both ends of the field. Defensively he clogged up the middle and made tackles in the backfield while also recovering a fumble and blocking an extra point in the second quarter. He remained active the entire night and managed to rumble for a gain of 36 yards on one of a handful of carries.

- Freshman RB/DB Mike Dorcely – Opened the game with two big kick returns before Jones abandoned the idea of kicking to him altogether. He played the entire game on defense manned up with a big senior target for Jones and came away from it no worse for the wear. In fact, he broke up several passes, pulled in a one-handed interception in the second quarter, and scored a touchdown in the third quarter on a run of nine yards.

- Freshman RB/LB BJ Simpson – Made big hits on the Jones quarterback for sacks; forced a fumble at the end of the first half and also found the end zone in the win. He recorded runs of 28 and 26 yards while crossing the goal line in the third quarter.

- More Lake Highland (2-0) contributors – Senior Cameron Uranick was in on tackles-for-loss; Sophomore Ty Law broke up a 2-point conversion pass in the end zone; Junior Cody Leiffer caught a pass for 20 yards, made a tackle-for-loss and recovered a fumble; Junior Eric Fernandez recorded a sack for a loss of seven yards; Freshman Landon Stokes recorded a sack of minus four yards; Senior Blake Castillo caught a pass for 13 yards and had several nice runs included one for 24 yards; Senior Tyler Kirkland caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone by out jumping a defender in the first quarter.

Jones –

Try as they might, the Tigers fell short largely due to special teams. Yet even while trailing 42-25 in the fourth quarter they rallied back and gave themselves a shot at completing the comeback with more than a minute to go. The trouble for them began with having an extra point blocked in the second quarter. The visiting team was successful on just one of four two-point conversion attempts from that point on.

- Junior QB Angelo Warner – Did everything in his power to put the ball in the hands of his receivers, even if they had trouble holding on for the reception when the pass was on its mark. He took some tough shots by defenders, one in particular on the team’s opening possession. But on that play he was rewarded for it once his pass found it’s way into the end zone.

- Senior WR/FS Stacy Robinson – Might be too good for his own good. Had a tough start to the game, as he seemed to outrun most passes, resulting in too many battles while having to come back for the ball. Although he lost several of those matchups he did shake off his defender for a 91-yard touchdown reception and another big catch of 44-yards that set up a 1-yard touchdown run. Defensively, he used his speed to get in the backfield where he was in on two sacks.

- Senior RB Travis Jones – Showed off his field vision Friday night with some nice runs. Most notable was the 27-yard touchdown he scored by following a smashing lead block by sophomore Joshua Bembery with 5:16 left in second quarter. The score gave Jones the lead, 19-14, at the halftime break.

- Senior WR/RB Raysean Brown – Lined up in the Wildcat formation on offense throughout the night and mainly made his presence felt in the second half. He routinely picked up big gains while on the run (and even catching a pass) and scored twice in the fourth quarter on runs of 12 and three yards.

- More Jones (1-1) contributors – Freshman Levonte Whitfield caught a 38-yard touchdown pass and had another reception of 42 yards; Senior Dante Rogers was on quarterback sacks of minus-three and five yards; Junior Steven Michel was in on a sack of minus-five yards; Junior Lex Edwards caught passes of 13 and 23 yards; Senior LeNorris Lamoute scored on a 1-yard touchdown run; Senior Fillimore Wynter recorded a sack.

– More Lake Highland Prep vs. Jones coverage:

Game story at Orlando Sentinel

Player videos and program info at LHP Athletics

Video interview with Jones WR Robinson at WFTV 9