By Official Florida FC
Northeast Florida won four of the six FHSAA girls soccer state championships last year. Tuesday night, all four reigning champions kicked off their playoff journeys with rousing victories.
In Class 2A, Orange Park St. Johns Country day steamrolled Bishop McLaughlin 8-0. In Class 3A, Bolles trounced Keystone Heights 8-0. In Class 7A, Bartram Trail continued its mastery over public schools in the state with a 5-1 win over Lake Mary.
In Class 4A, Bishop Kenny started slow; but, turned things on late in the first half to pull away from visiting Ridgeview 5-0. The match would have been even more lopsided were it not for Ridgeview goalie Jaden Marsh making a number of saves to deny the Crusaders.
Bishop Kenny’s Marison Sinti opened the scoring in the 14th minute when she pounced on a rebound. Later, freshman Alana Maki scored a hat trick with goals in the 30th, 35th and 56th minute. Kristina Hoy capped off the scoring in the 78th minute.
Bishop Kenny (13-3-1) has won six straight matches heading into Friday’s Region 1-4A semifinal against St. Augustine Menendez (7-6-1).
Bishop Kenny’s girls soccer team is 17-4-1 over the last two seasonss at J. Joseph Parete Field at William H. Johnston Stadium. The Crusaders defeated Ridgeview in a Region 1-4A quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 16 to improve to 13-3-1. 
Bishop Kenny fullback Megan O’Connell-Becker is one of six seniors on the Crusaders’ squad that is vying for back-to-back FHSAA championships. Bishop Kenny took another step toward that goal with a 5-0 win over Ridgeview in a Region 1-4A quarterfinal. 
Ridgeview senior Alexandria Noble prepares to restart play during the second half of a Region 1-4A tournament quarterfinal against Bishop Kenny. The Crusaders ended Noble’s varsity career with a 5-0 win. 
Bishop Kenny midfielder Abby Measor (35) tries to find space beyond Ridgeview’s Julianna Reali during a Region 1-4A quarterfinal contest. Bishop Kenny eliminated Ridgeview 5-0 to improve to 13-3-1. 
Bishop Kenny’s Kaylee Mahoney, right, cuts off Ridgeview’s Leah Noble during a FHSAA Region 1-4A quarterfinal. The Crusaders eliminated Ridgeview 5-0. 
Bishop Kenny freshman Alana Maki (19) scored a hat trick during the Crusaders’ 5-0 win over Ridgeivew in a Region 1-4A quarterfinal. 
Ridgeview’s Osiris Saldierna, right, tries to deny Bishop Kenny forward Sierra Smith (1) from taking a shot during the waning moments of a Region 1-4A quarterfinal. Bishop Kenny, the reigning Class 4A state champion, eliminated Ridgeview 5-0 to improve to 13-3-1 for the season. 
Bishop Kenny forward Mackenna Gregory (18) tries to dribble through a trio of Ridgeview defenders during a Region 1-4A tournament quarterfinal. Gregory and the Crusaders won 5-0. 
Ridgeview goalie Jaden Marsh saves the header of Bishop Kenny forward Mackenna Gregory during the first half of a Region 1-4A quarterfinal. Marsh’s acrobatics were not enough to stop Bishop Kenny from winning 5-0. 
Bishop Kenny co-captain Choe Shaw (13) finished with two assists in the Crusaders’ 5-0 win over Ridgeview in a FHSAA Region 1-4A quarterfinal. 
Ridgeview goalie Jaden Marsh clears the ball during the first half of a Region 1-4A quarterfinal. Marsh made a series of superb saves to keep the Panthers in the game as long as possible. Bishop Kenny won 5-0 to end Ridgeview’s season at 7-11-1. 
Ridgeview goalie Jaden Marsh, center, denies Bishop Kenny winger Alana Maki a first half goal in a FHSAA Region 1-4A quarterfinal. Maki scored a hat trick to lead the Crusaders to a 5-0 win. 
A Bishop Kenny defender stops to tie her shoes during the second half of a FHSAA Region 1-4A girls soccer victory over Ridgeview. The Crusaders won 5-0 to advance to the regional semifinals against St. Augustine Menendez. 
Bishop Kenny midfielder Chloe Shaw wins a header during a Feb. 16, Region 1-4A quarterfinal win over Ridgeview. Shaw produced two assists in the Crusaders’ 5-0 win.
