The Celebration girls soccer team hadn’t reached a district championship game in the 19 years Ed Kuzma has coached the Storm — until Tuesday.

No time like Kuzma’s final year coaching soccer.

Celebration’s Isabella Foster fired a shot into the net from 25 yards out 21 minutes into the Storm’s District 7A-6 semifinal against Freedom, and a stingy defense made it stand up in a 1-0 victory.

The Storm (15-3-3) will host Ridge (14-6-2), who made easy work of Cypress Creek in Tuesday’s other semifinal, in the district championship on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

“Freedom possessed the ball the rest of the first half (after the goal), and our defense refused to break,” Kuzma said. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. In the second half they started to press up, but our girls stepped up as a team. No girl wanted to be the one who broke down to let in a goal.

“It’s a passionate and proud group who’s finally convinced themselves they’re winners.”

In a Region 2 where it’ll probably take winning the district to make the regional playoffs, Celebration girl’s program can make history by making the playoffs for the first time since the school opened in 2003-04. Kuzma will become the Storm’s full-time baseball coach — which is already practicing — this spring.
“No second-guessing, I’m done this soccer season,” he said.

It could be a Celebration doubleheader Friday — if the boys team wins Wednesday at Cypress Creek, they’ll play for their district title Friday at 7:30.

BOYS: VIERA 3, HARMONY 0: The Longhorns (12-4-5) will have to await an at-large berth after falling in Tuesday’s District 6A-9 semifinal.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: WARRIORS NOW 23-0. City of Life rolled past Winter Haven All Saints, 70-14, in Tuesday’s District 2A-11 semifinal. Jayshlynn Vega had 23 points and 9 steals, Shannelle Heredia had 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Sophia Chevres scored 10 points and 7 steals.

The Warriors will go for their fourth consecutive district final Thursday at Orlando Christian Prep at 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
Girls soccer: Harmony vs. Melbourne at Viera (6A-12), 5:30; Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud (6A-9), 5:30.

Boys soccer: Celebration at Cypress Creek (7A-6), 7 p.m.; Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud (6A-9), 5:30 p.m.

Girls basketball: Osceola vs Windermere at Celebration, 5:30 (7A-6); Gateway at Heritage (5A-8), 7 p.m.