DEREK MULLER AND JASON REDMON

The Vero Beach High School varsity girls soccer team (19-3-1) won a 3-2 victory over West Boca Raton in the regional title game Friday night at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bowl.

With only a few minutes left in regular play, Indians senior midfielder Meagan Notargiacomo kicked the game winning goal from 20 yards out, sending the Indian on the the Final Four tournament next week in Melbourne.

The Indians will play Palm Harbor at East Florida State College in Melbourne Friday, February 7 at 5:30.  The winner will play the following day at 5:30 for the state title. East Florida State College is located at 3865 North Wickham Road.

Around campus, it’s easy to spot the VBHS mantra….its spoken, it’s presented, and it’s proven, “We Specialize in Champions”.

In every sport, in every classroom, in every way VBHS student athletes prove this to be a school standard.  It was never more obvious than last Friday night in the Citrus Bowl. On Billy Livings Field, made famous by the Lil Rascals of 1981, who won a football State Championship, the tradition was started and kept alive by multiple District championships won by many teams and consecutive State Championships by the Girls Lacrosse team.

But it was Girls Soccer carrying it on this time that had the home side loud and proud that night. “I have a friend who lives on the other side of town by Piper and she said she could hear the crowd!” claimed Coach Jose Gibert.

The Lady Indian Varsity Soccer team consists of 22 and is young and brash, “They play for each other and train to compete, making other the best they can be each and every day,” Gilbert said. “These girls train hard, give each other everything they got and they believe in each other, they have each other’s back, it showed all season and big time Friday night!”

The Lady Indians have a freshman in goal, a slew of sophomores scattered across the field with two other freshman that rotate in and out under the leadership of the lone senior Megan Notargiacomo, who kicked the winning goal in Friday’s game.

“Megan has a high work ethic, no one will out work her, she leads by example and this team is better because of it.” Gilbert said.

With the big win over West Boca in the State Regional Final game, VBHS’s girls soccer is on the map. The Lady Indians are the only Treasure girl’s team to ever make a state Final Four, and this will be the schools second appearance both under the leadership of Coach Jose Gibert.

Coach Gibert, came over from the boys game and has found quick success with the Lady Indians, with help from Asst Coach Tammy Schaeffer and his protégé assistant coach Ryan Lowther, who Gilbert has coached since Ryan was ten. This grouping has been great for these student athletes.

“Coach Gibert brings out the best in each and every one of the players and has this team playing at a high championship level.” Said proud parent Chris Crawford.

Coach Gibert leads by example and demands hard work and dedication on and off the field, just spending five minutes with the coach one can feel the passion in his voice as he talks about his team, the girls have bought in and it shows.

The Lady Indians compiled a 19-3-1 record on the field while carrying a team 4.1 GPA in the classroom, they have a lot of games but also the District Team Academic award numerous times as well and are poise to bring home some State Hardware beginning Friday February 7^th in a 5:30 p.m. against Palm Harbor at East Coast State University, the site of the State Final Four tournament.  The winner of next’s Friday’s game will play the following day at 5:30pm for the state title.

As they take the field next Friday afternoon, it will be easy to recognize that  VBHS does in fact “Specialize in Champions”.