Bengoa's 2 goals, defense send Bishop Moore into 4A title defense

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Goalie Amanda Hernandez-Cepero and the Bishop Moore midfield and defense returned the defending champion Hornets to the FHSAA Class 4A final Friday, shutting out Stanton in a 4-0 victory.

Katsi Bengoa scored two goals, and Victoria Pou and Raelin Miller each added a goal for the Hornets (19-2-3), who return to defend their Class 4A state championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the Delray Beach American Heritage-Lakeland McKeel winner.

The Hornets are going for their seventh title because a defensive line led by senior Meagan Booker helped snuff out most of the Blue Devils’ counterattacks, and midfielder Sienna Rivera also made several steals in the midfield.

Rivera had a piece of the second goal, and Gabby Garcia set up several more chances.

“I think it was a team effort” Rivera said. “Stepping up, covering for each other, knowing when to defend and when to attack and not to just jump right in is a good way we started getting steals.”

The Hornets turned a Stanton handball into a 1-0 lead. Katsi Bengoa beat the keeper low left with 32:07 left in the first half.

Bengoa also scored the final goal with 5:19 left. She lofted a shot over the Stanton keeper Samantha Yerger. The ball bounced past Yerger, off the right post and into the goal.

“The second goal, I just saw the keeper wasn’t on her line,” Bengoa said. “I just went for it and it went in.”

Rivera set up the Hornets’ next goal seven minutes later. Rivera dribbled into the Stanton half, then passed left to Avery Jacobs on the sideline. Jacobs then centered to Pou, who beat the keeper lower right from the 6-yard box with 25:03 left in the half to put Bishop Moore up 2-0.

“We knew that if our outside forwards just attacked and crossed and finished like we normally do, we had it,” Pou said.

Toward the end of the half, Stanton started finding counterattack opportunities. Bengoa cleared out a Stanton corner-kick attempt.

Stanton pressured the Hornets more in the second half. Aujenae Batts stole a Hornets pass and centered to Emma Griner. Griner missed high and left. Hernandez-Cepero also raced high in the penalty box several times to prevent Stanton shots. In the final minutes, Stanton’s Tatum Register passed from the right side of the box left to Ava Touchton. But Hernandez-Cepero barely beat Touchton to the ball.

“(Defense) is one of our strongest suits,” Hernandez-Cepero said. “We use it to our advantage. We’re going to state, so it’s working well.”

Amelia Miller centered to twin sister Raelin Miller, who beat the keeper low left for a 3-0 Bishop Moore lead with 24:48 left in regulation. Bishop Moore coach Amy Gertz awarded the Miller twins the game ball.

Now the Hornets will try to repeat for the first time. Defense and midfield will play a key.

“There’s a lot of pressure on us, because last year we did a magical win with no seniors,” Pou said. “We just knew we had to do it again, because it’s never been done before. We’re super excited to go back, and we hope to win it again.”