For the first time in a decade, Niceville girls soccer is headed back to the Final Four.
- After years of frustrating playoff exits, the Lady Eagles — for now at least — seem to have finally avoided that fate. And it came in a revenge win after last year’s Elite Eight loss to Bartram Trail.
Like most games Niceville has played in these playoffs, defense dominated early. Both teams were missing shots, and it wasn’t until Michelle Melancon, the hero of the Navarre game, hit a goal at the 37th-minute mark that someone broke through. That was good enough to take Niceville into the half with a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Bears had some chances in the second half, but Niceville’s vaunted defense, anchored by star goalkeeper Eden Shaw, kept Bartram Trail off the board. Payten Hart tacked on a goal at the 67th-minute mark to further pad the lead, and Melancon added another at the 81st-minute mark — all but punching Niceville’s ticket to DeLand while ensuring the defending state champions would be watching the Final Four from home.
With the win, two things are becoming clear for Niceville.
The first: Melancon has been the Lady Eagles’ MVP this postseason.
“When she gets in her head that she can make a difference, she makes a difference,” Niceville head coach Kelly Fernandez said.
- “It feels amazing,” Melancon added. “It’s something nobody on this roster has done before, and it feels so good to beat the defending state champs.”
The second: Niceville’s defense is probably good enough to carry the Lady Eagles to a state title. So far, Niceville hasn’t given up a single goal this postseason. In fact, the Lady Eagles have allowed only seven goals all year, the most recent coming in the district championship against Pace on Jan. 27.
It’s not too crazy to think the Lady Eagles could go the entire postseason without giving up a goal.
- “I think we can. Our defense is our rock, and I think we can keep that up,” Melancon said.
Niceville will play Lakewood Ranch in the Final Four next Monday. Lakewood Ranch beat East Lake 4-4 on penalty kicks. The winner will play the winner of the St. Thomas Aquinas-Viera game in the Class 6A state championship next Wednesday. All three matchups will be held at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
