The 7A-District 8 playoffs started with Durant keeping its success streak alive and well at home.
Monday’s quarterfinal, a rematch of the Cougars’ 3-0 home win over Riverview on Dec. 10, 2019, was more of the same for the home team. Durant (11-1-2) had little trouble executing its game plan in another 3-0 win over the Sharks, which put the Cougars into tonight’s semifinal against Lakewood Ranch. Emma Harnage and Kendall Drummond each scored in the first half to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead, and Drummond beat the goalie again early in the second half to give Durant even more insurance for the rest of the game.
Durant has now won seven games in a row, outscored opponents 51-8 on the season and has stayed out of the loss column for nine games, having won or tied every match since Dec. 5, 2019, against Strawberry Crest.
The Cougars will now face a Lakewood Ranch team that’s also been on fire this season. After starting the season with a loss, the Mustangs (12-3-2; 1-0 district) found a groove and used a 9-1-2 run starting Dec. 3, 2019, to earn a 2 seed in the 7A-8 tourney and lock up a first-round bye.
The winner of tonight’s semifinal matchup will face the winner of that night’s Newsome-Riverview Sarasota game at 7 p.m. in Thursday’s championship finale.