FORT MYERS - For the first time since winning the state title in 2001, Fort Myers Bishop Verot (22-4-1) is headed back to the state semifinals after beating St. Petersburg Catholic (13-4-4) 4-0 Friday night in a Region 3A-3 soccer final.
Steven Shea scored twice and helped set up another goal, and Ross Lane stopped all seven shots he faced.
"We were just totally ready for this game," said Lane, who had four of his saves in the first half, as the Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the state, opened a 3-0 lead. "The way we played tonight, I don't think anyone can beat us."
Verot, which beat Tampa Jesuit, the state's No. 3, 2-1 in a region semifinal Tuesday night, faces the winner of Friday's 3A-1 final between Jacksonville Bolles and Jacksonville Episcopal on Wednesday at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium.
Senior forward Craig Gembecki got Verot's first score on a corner kick from Peter Zell 13 minutes into the game.
Shea was taken down in the penalty box in the 18th minute, setting up a goal by senior midfielder Ryan Swaim for a 2-0 lead. Shea headed in a pass from Michael Jeffrey only three minutes later then scored only eight minutes into the second half on a long throw-in from Swaim for the final margin.
"After Tuesday night when we beat Jesuit, we knew if we played the same kind of soccer, we'll go all the way," said Shea, crediting Friday night's dominant win to team intensity.
3A: Where are we?
SEMINOLE - The Class 4A game between West Palm Beach Forest Hill and Osceola was postponed after Forest Hill traveled to the wrong school.
Forest Hill somehow confused Class 6A Kissimmee Osceola, which is near Orlando, with Pinellas County's Class 4A Osceola, leaving the local Warriors all dressed up with no one to play.
Osceola (the right one) coach Tim Rachford spoke with Cecila Jackson of the Florida High School Athletic Association on Friday, and arranged to reschedule the game for today at 2 p.m., presumably here.
Forest Hill, meanwhile, didn't have money allocated for hotel rooms. They had to return to West Palm Beach on Friday night and will drive back today.
- Times correspondent Eric Muskatevc contributed to this report.
