Auburndale Fl– The St. Johns Country Day girls’ soccer team left no doubt who was the best in Class 1A this season. With a dominant 4-0 win over Pine in the state championship game, the Spartans claimed their 15th state title, finishing off an incredible playoff run.
From the opening whistle, St. Johns Country Day showed why they were the team to beat. Cece Nowicki was on fire, scoring twice to help lead her team to victory. Reygan Ropero and Victoria Sarka each added a goal, sealing the deal for the Spartans. Meanwhile, goalie Alyvia Bishop was a brick wall, securing the shutout with key saves.
This championship win was the cherry on top of an incredible postseason. The Spartans steamrolled through their playoff opponents, outscoring teams 29-0 in five games. They crushed St. John Paul II 8-0 in the first round, blanked Christ’s Church 4-0 in the Sweet 16, and dominated University Christian 7-0 in the Elite 8. In the Final Four, they shut down South Florida Heat with an impressive 6-0 victory before capping it all off with the 4-0 win in the state final.
The Spartans finished the season with an outstanding 20-3-1 record. Their offense was explosive, and their defense was nearly unbeatable. Reygan Ropero and Cece Nowicki both scored 13 goals on the year, while Victoria Sarka was a dual threat, racking up 11 goals and 12 assists. In goal, Alyvia Bishop was a standout, making 68 saves to keep opponents off the scoreboard.
No team has scored on the Spartans since January 9th, almost two months ago. Their only loses came at the hands of Bishop Moore who fell to 19-1 American Heritage in the Class 4A State Championship. To Ponte Vedra, the Class 5A state champions, and Bartram Trail, the Class 6A State champions.
In their run, St Johns Country Day yielded only 5 goals all season. Wins over great teams such as Christ’s Church, Fletcher, P.K. Yonge, and Episcopal high light a magnificent season.
Head coach Mike Pickett, who has been coaching for over 35 years at both the high school and college levels, once again led his team to greatness. His experience and leadership have helped make St. Johns Country Day one of the most dominant soccer programs in Florida.
With another championship added to their collection, the Spartans have proven once again that they are a powerhouse. Their incredible season, filled with goals, shutouts, and unforgettable moments, will be remembered for years to come.
