Following a record of 14-1-1 during the regular season, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School women’s varsity soccer team qualified to compete in the Class 7A regional championship. Coming into the game, the team was just three wins away from reaching the state championship.

On Tuesday, March 7, MSD competed in the regional quarterfinals against South Dade Senior High School Buccaneers. The Buccaneers finished the season with a 13-5-1 record, putting them as the number seven seed, while the Eagles were classified as the second.

Entering the matchup, the Eagles only allowed eight goals during the entire duration of the regular season. This was a statistic that the Eagles planned on keeping throughout the entirety of the postseason.

The first half kicked off and both defenses came out ready to play. Both teams were forcing turnovers, preventing the other team from scoring a goal. As a result, no teams were able to score throughout the first half.

When the second half began, the Eagles came out ready to score. They wrapped up a couple of defensive possessions with midfielder Layla Segelnick (15) scoring the first goal for the Eagles. She gave her team an early lead, granting the Eagles an early edge over the Buccaneers.

“I was in a one versus one situation with my defender,” Segelnick said. “I took a shot with my left leg, which is my off leg, and made it.”

Segelnick’s goal sparked something that the Eagles were unable to accomplish during the first half. Her goal was followed by another score by forward Addison Krajczewski (25). Krajczewski’s shot gave the Eagles a comfortable lead, increasing their lead to 2-0.

“I wouldn’t have been able to play as well as I did without my teammates,” Krajczewski said. “My favorite moment is after we score, like, how happy we are together.”

This goal was not the stopping point for the Eagles. Shortly after the previous goal by Krajczewski, the team scored again to make it a 3-0 game with a goal by forward Emma McGregor (25).

“Layla got a good ball play to her, and then she crossed it over to me, and I scored,” McGregor said. “After the final whistle, we got excited and started cheering.”

The final whistle blew, signaling an Eagles victory. Their dominant performance has moved them onto the next round in the regional playoffs. The Eagles will compete against Palmetto High School on Friday, Feb. 10.