Hello, Royals,
Hope everyone had a nice Presidents’ Day weekend. Here’s your weekly sports report and sports schedule.
Girls Soccer: The girls soccer team saw their season end in the Regional Final with a hard-fought 3–1 loss to Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs. Despite the final score, our girls battled from start to finish and never once backed down.
The match couldn’t have started better, as Sofia Cruces found the back of the net early to give us a 1–0 lead. From there, the team continued to apply pressure and match Gibbons’ intensity step for step. The Chiefs were able to equalize just before halftime, sending the game into the break tied 1–1, but our girls remained confident and poised heading into the second half with the upset well within reach.
Midway through the second half, a questionable call in the box led to a penalty kick that gave Gibbons the lead. They added an insurance goal later, but even then, our girls continued to compete until the final whistle. While the result wasn’t what we hoped for, the heart, resilience, and fight this team showed all season and especially in the programs first ever Regional Final is something to be proud of.
Girls Basketball: The Lady Royals made history with a dominant 58–40 win over Ransom Everglades School, earning the program’s first regional final victory in the Quarterfinal game. From the opening tip, the Royals played with confidence and composure, setting the tone early and never looking back.
Ainoa Haliwa led the charge with 14 points, attacking the basket and coming up big in key moments. Isabella Aversa added 12 points, providing steady offense throughout the night. Freshman Daniela Cardoso stepped up in a big way with 10 points, showing poise beyond her years on the big stage. Friday Acevedo contributed 8 points, while Ana Villarreal rounded out the top scorers with 7, helping balance the offensive effort.
It was a complete team performance strong defense, disciplined execution, and contributions up and down the roster as the Lady Royals secured a milestone win that will be remembered in program history. The team now advances to the regional semifinal round at Keys Gate Charter School, where they will look to continue their postseason run.
Baseball: After dropping two close games opening week of the season, the ILS Varsity Baseball team will look to prove their resilience with a bounce back performance this week against two familiar district opponents. First, the team will travel to Gibson Park on Tuesday for a 3:30pm first pitch vs SLAM Academy and then finish off the week traveling to defending State Champion Miami Springs HS on Thursday for what should be an entertaining rematch of last year’s 3A-15 District Championship Game. First pitch will be at 3:30pm @ Miami Springs HS.
Come out and support the boys! Go Royals!
Softball: The softball team dropped two tough preseason matchups against Braddock High School and Ferguson Senior High School. Despite the results, the preseason provided valuable experience and highlighted areas for growth as the team continues to build chemistry and sharpen its execution.
With the regular season beginning this week, the team is focused and motivated to bounce back. The coaching staff and players are confident that the lessons learned from preseason competition will translate into stronger performances moving forward.
Tennis: The tennis team dropped two tough matches this week, but the group continues to show resilience and a strong commitment to improving. While the results didn’t go our way, there were competitive moments throughout both matches that reflect the progress the team is making.
The team is excited for another opportunity to compete this week. With continued focus, effort, and preparation, the team looks forward to bouncing back and building momentum as the season moves ahead.
Track: The track team opened the season this week at Palmer Trinity School Falcon invite, getting their first real competition experience of the year under their belts. With several athletes still transitioning from winter sports, this meet was all about setting the tone, building momentum, and shaking off the early-season rust.
Despite not being at full strength yet, the team competed hard and showed a lot of promise. Athletes stepped into new events, pushed through tough races, and supported one another throughout the day. For many, it was an opportunity to see where they stand and what adjustments need to be made moving forward.
As the roster continues to fill out and final pieces are added, the focus remains on daily improvement. The energy is positive, the work ethic is there, and the group is motivated. With more athletes joining the lineup in the coming weeks, this team is laying a strong foundation for what should be an exciting spring season.
Sports Schedule:
Tuesday, February 17, 2026: Softball opens their regular season hosting Marathon for a 4:00PM game at Palmetto Bay Park.
Baseball travels to Gibson Park to face off against SLAM. First pitch 3:30PM.
Tennis hosts Key West for a 2PM match at Crandon Park.
Thursday, February 19, 2026: Baseball travels to Miami Springs for a 3:30PM first pitch.
Softball hosts Carrollton for a 7:00PM first pitch at Palmetto Bay Park.
Tennis travels Tamiami park for a match vs ST. Brendan (Girls) 2:00PM.
Track team travels to Monsignor Pace for their meet this week.
Friday, February 20, 2026: Girls Basketball Regional Semifinal @ Keys Gate 7:00PM.
Saturday, February 21, 2026: JV Baseball travels to Florida Christian for a 10/1:00PM Games.
GOOOO ROYALS!
