P.K. Yonge girls advance to first final four (2024)

The third time was the charm for the P.K. Yonge girls’ soccer team.

On Wednesday night, the host Lady Blue Wave got two goals from junior Faith Hardy to eliminate Episcopal (Jacksonville), 2-1, in an FHSAA Class 3A-Region 1 Final.

After losses in the regional final the past two years to Jacksonville schools Providence and Bolles, P.K. Yonge advanced to its first final four in program history.

“Wow, this feels amazing,” said P.K. Yonge coach Rebecca Schackow. “We are so thrilled. This is the first time. We didn’t know what it would feel like, and it feels awesome.”

There were only a couple of shots on goal in the first half by P.K. Yonge, both by Hardy, who maneuvered her way past a defender to get a one-on-one opportunity with the visiting Eagles’ keeper for the first score of the night.

She found the back of the net with 6:56 left in the opening half.

“Perfect ball by Mae Dodd,” Hardy said. “I was just able to stay calm because usually I would force that ball and go right into the defender, but I just stayed calm, took a touch, she went forward, and then placement, and I just couldn’t get in my head. I just had to go for it and thankfully it went in.”

Up 1-0 a little over four minutes into the second half, a yellow card against the Lady Blue Wave gave Episcopal (14-6-1) a free kick that placed the ball right in front of the goal.

Despite heavy traffic in the area, sophom*ore goalkeeper Norah Pancoast made a save to keep P.K. Yonge on top.

“Yeah, it was crazy,” Pancoast said. “There was just a lot going on, so I was glad I was able to get my hands to it and I’m glad the ref saw that they were the ones who pushed me down, so I was really glad we were able to get that one out.”

However, less than a minute later Episcopal junior Kynsley Young found the right corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1.

It was the first goal that P.K. Yonge (16-3-3) had allowed since a 1-1 tie with Class 7A Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) on Jan. 16.

“We talked about it before the game,” Coach Schackow said. “We’re playing wonderful teams, there’s a high chance we will be scored on so what are we going to do when that happens? We talked about, alright if that happens…don’t panic, break it down into smaller segments, and then get the job done.”

Both teams had shots on goal in the second half that just went over the crossbar.

But with four minutes left, Hardy scored on a header on an assist by Schackow’s daughter, Marleigh, who placed the ball perfectly on a free kick from near midfield for the game winner.

“My free kicks had kind of been off throughout the game, and I just looked at that one and I was like, ‘this has got to be it,’ said the senior. “Set pieces are the most valuable thing in the game, especially in the playoffs. They’re a great chance to score, and then Faith with the finish. Even if I put the ball there and there is no one there to finish it, then it means nothing, so I’m super grateful to her for that.”

It was a great way for mother and daughter to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

“It’s been seven years of me working for this, so this is like a very surreal moment for me,” Marleigh Schackow said. “I came into this program with my mom and the fact that we’re ending it going to state’s is really special. The first thing I did when we won is I went and hugged her because I know that it means a lot to us.”

P.K. Yonge will be the No. 4 seed in next Wednesday’s 3A state semifinals and will face top seed and nationally ranked Montverde Academy (16-4-1) at 1 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale.

“This is incredible,” Pancoast said. “This is all we’ve been working toward all season. It’s a dream come true.”

SOCCER

GIRLS

Wednesday, Feb. 14
3A-Region 1 Final
1 P.K. Yonge 2, 3 Episcopal School of Jacksonville 1

BOYS