Manatee, Bradenton Christian girls soccer earn blowout wins
Canes rout Tigers in girls soccer
PALMETTO -- Manatee rolled to an 8-0 win Thursday over host Palmetto in girls soccer.
Sydney Cornell led the way with three goals and one assist, Jessica Schafer contributed two goals and two assists, and Meredith Roberts netted two goals.
Katie Christenson contributed one goal and one assist, and Brianna Blethen assisted on a goal.
Goalkeeper Ashleigh Parker posted just two saves in the shutout with stout protection from defenders Kylie Amares, Amelia Greaves, Kyra Hines and Tyler Einsmann.
The Hurricanes (1-0-1) have a week off before facing Riverview next Thursday in Sarasota. The Tigers (1-1-0) host Venice on Tuesday in Palmeto.
LAKEWOOD RANCH 4, NORTH PORT 0 -- The Mustangs notched their second clean sheet in three games to stay unbeaten with a 4-0 win against the Bobcats on Thursday in Lakewood Ranch. Maria Gonzalez paced Ranch's offense with one goal and two assists in the win.
Nicole Wurster opened the scoring for Lakewood Ranch (3-0-0) before Gonzalez chipped in her goal to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. Maddison Krstec and Sydney Wicks rounded out the scoring for Ranch with one goal apiece. Krstec also added an assist in the win.
Lakewood Ranch goes on the road Tuesday for its next game against Clearwater Central Catholic.
BRADENTON CHRISTIAN 8, SOUTHEAST 1 -- With a hat trick from Molly Stetsma and some stellar goalkeeping by Rayna Smith, the Panthers continued their perfect start to the season with an 8-1 win against the Seminoles on Tuesday in Bradenton.
Stetsma, who also dished out an assist, was one of three BCS players to score multiple goals. Madison Allen found the back of the net twice and added an assist, and Maddy Valadie scored twice, as well. Mckenna Jackson scored the final goal for Bradenton Christian. Smith made eight saves, including a pair of penalty stops.
Boys socccer
BRADEN RIVER 3, SARASOTA 1 -- The Pirates received two goals from Domenic Aluise and one from Kyle Villarante as Braden River (3-0) remained undefeated, beating the Sailors 3-1.
Girls basketball
LAKEWOOD RANCH 56, DOVER STRAWBERRY CREST 39 -- The Mustangs closed out the postseason Thursday with a blowout win against Strawberry Crest and a standout performance from star forward LaDazhia Williams. The junior, who is ranked No. 43 by ESPN in the Class of 2017, scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and logged a pair of steals in the Mustangs' final tune-up before the regular season begins Wednesday against Bayshore.
Aleah Robinson led Ranch with 17 rebounds to go along with six points and four steals, and Indian Searls added 17 points and eight boards in the win.
PALMETTO 66, ST. PETERSBURG GIBBS 15 -- The Tigers rode a balanced effort in their preseason finale to a 66-15 blowout against Gibbs on Thursday in St. Petersburg. Taylor Rozier led PHS with 15 points and Tina Stephenson added 10 points, three assists, three blocks and a team-high 16 rebounds.
Conner Rozier was the only other Palmetto player in double figures with 10, but Sydney Waiters, Anissa Washington, Amari White and Amona Rankin all scored six.
The Tigers open the regular next Thursday at home against Sarasota Riverview.
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Manatee, Bradenton Christian girls soccer earn blowout wins ."