Tonight, finally, Robinson had just enough. After two straight years of losing in penalty kicks in the regional semifinals, the Lady Knights soccer team held on for a 3-2 victory over Osceola, advancing for the first time in school history to the regional final game.

“We finally got a little exacting revenge on Osceola because they beat us five years ago 1-0 on penalty kicks,” said coach Billy Helms, sporting one of the “Just Robinson” t-shirts he had made for the team. “They all gutted it out, I didn’t make one sub in the second half [and] I made one sub the whole game, it’s a testament to how well these girls worked and stayed in condition.”

Osceola scored first with 16 minutes left in the first half and Knights’ Sarah Jennewein (’17)  scored five minutes later to tie it up. When Osceola scored once again with three minutes left in the first half, Jennewein countered with a penalty kick, ending the first half 2-2. With 35 minutes left in the second half, Jennewein completed her hat trick on another penalty kick. Just enough to lead the Knights to victory.

1, 2, 3

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Photo I. Hanewicz

Goal #1

“I know that our defense has struggled a little bit with stepping up but they’ve really stepped to the ball this time,” said Jennewein, who played in the past two regional semifinal losses. “And [our offense] was making those runs, even when we were tired.”

Now, the Knights look to the regional final game against Merritt Island (25-0-2). The game, against a team ranked 14th in the state-the Knights are ranked 183rd- will be a tough one. But for once, they won’t be the ones sitting at home.

Third Time’s the Charm

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Photo I. Hanewicz

“We’re going to do the old Robinson try,” said Helms about facing Merritt Island. “We’re just Robinson, that’s what we say, we’re going to play like Robinson.”

Update at 8:29 a.m. 1/29: Robinson faces Merritt Island Friday, Jan. 29 at Merritt Island High School (100 Mustang Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953). The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.