UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, Victory Christian has defeated the heavily favored St. Johns Country Day with a decisive score of 3-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 FHSAA Class 1A Girls Soccer Championships at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, Auburndale. This unexpected victory marks one of the biggest upsets in girls soccer history for a Polk County team.
Victory Christian, ranked No. 6 in the FHSAA power rankings and making their first-ever final-four appearance, faced off against No. 1 St. Johns, a team with a staggering 15 state championships. However, the match did not unfold as anticipated. After initially weathering an early storm from St. Johns, Victory Christian rallied back with a flurry of goals.
Freshman Kinley Hunter emerged as a key player, scoring two crucial goals just 17 minutes apart. The dramatic comeback stunned the Spartans and sent shockwaves through the soccer community. The Storm’s victory is reminiscent of Lakeland Christian‘s 2023 triumph, which ended St. Johns’ state title streak.
Victory Christian head coach Grace Kelly, currently on maternity leave but present on the bench, expressed immense pride in her team’s effort. “I can’t even put it into words,” she stated. “It’s not just they’re good soccer players, they’re just good kids who are going to put in the mental toughness work.”
The players displayed remarkable resilience throughout the match. Senior Sylvia Rodriguez, celebrating her 18th birthday, played a pivotal role by assisting the Storm’s first goal. “We were ready. We brushed it off our shoulders. It was a lousy, flimsy goal,” she said. This mindset proved critical as the team adapted and pressed on, believing in each other’s abilities.
The Storm’s winning goal came with just under 12 minutes left on the clock when a free kick from center back bounced off the crossbar and was followed up by Hunter for the rebound. “We had to lock down our defense and keep everything out,” said senior co-captain Hayden Fullwood.
Victory Christian sealed the match with a late goal from Olivia Enechkwu, marking her 12th goal of the season. The team’s powerful performance came after a challenging first half, where they faced a goal from St. Johns’ Adisienne Taylor in the 11th minute.
As Victory Christian (14-7) prepares for the championship match against No. 2 Canterbury, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, the excitement is palpable. Canterbury advanced after defeating Berean Christian with a score of 4-0.
This victory not only symbolizes a significant achievement for Victory Christian but also showcases the potential for underdog teams to rise and make their mark in competitive sports. Fans are eager to see if Victory can continue their momentum and claim the championship title. Stay tuned for updates as this thrilling story develops!
