Three shots on goal is all Barron Collier needed to defeat Ida Baker 3-0 Tuesday night in the Region 4A-3 semifinals at Cougar Stadium.

It’s the second year in a row that the Cougars (18-3-3) have eliminated the Bulldogs (23-6-1) from regional playoffs, both coming in the semifinals round.

“We had more opportunities in the first half, but couldn’t capitalize,” said Bulldogs coach Dave Trepkowski. “I preached to the girls in practice that we can’t let the rugby tactics bother us, but at times it did tonight.”

Play was a bit rough in the first half with two Cougars players drawing yellow cards. Neither card came on plays that resulted in injuries suffered by Bulldogs players Mary Farella and Amber Hutchinson.

Farella, a junior, was knocked to the turf and received a gash on her forehead over the left eye. Hutchinson, a freshman, collided with Collier goalkeeper Alex Persiani away from the goal on the left wing near the endline. Hutchinson had to be stabilized and taken to a hospital for treatment for neck pain after hitting the hard synthetic turf.

In the second half alone, Bulldogs players were knocked to the turf dozens of times. On 16 of those they were awarded direct kicks.

Asked what it was that Collier’s defense threw at them that made a difference in the game, Trepkowski replied, “The bodies and the elbows they threw at us. That and not having ball people on the sidelines. It could be more of a grudge match next year because they are coached to play that way.”

The Bulldogs were on the attack early, but came up empty on all five shots taken in the first 20 minutes.

“We made some adjustments on the fly,” said Cougars coach Ray Morgan. “Baker came out strong and we had to ride the wave for the first 10 or 12 minutes, but then we kind of settled in.”

Collier’s first shot on goal came at the 18-minute mark. A centering pass from the right wing found Sam Gomes open for a shot inside the right post past Baker keeper Payton Van Horn for the icebreaker.

At the 27-minute mark, another centering pass from the right wing to Marissa Stovring resulted in a goal just inside the left post. Two shots on goal, two goals in the entire first half.

“We were not getting to the ball first,” said Trepkowski. “It was just not our night. The only thing I would change is I would have taken the wind advantage in the first half.”

The Bulldogs went into full attack mode in the second half, dominating offensively with a 14-2 advantage. Persiani, however, was outstanding in goal with a total of 10 saves.

Trepkowski put Van Horn on offense and Victoria Irvin at goalkeeper for the second half.

With 12 minutes to play, a controversial play went against the Bulldogs and resulted in the Cougars’ third goal, their only shot on goal in the second half.

Collier turned a defensive stop into an offensive breakaway. Irvin charged the free ball and got there before Gomes. She picked up the ball, but officials blew the whistle and pointed to the spot ruling she was outside the 18-yard box. Gomes ripped the ball out of Irvin’s hands, put it down and quickly kicked it into the goal. Three shots on goal, three goals.

“That was a heady play. It was a hand ball violation by the keeper,” said Morgan.

The Cougars travel to Tampa to face Steinbrenner High Friday night in the regional finals.

“It’s disappointing because we really wanted to go farther in the playoffs than we did last year,” said Trepkowski.

“We will win some and lose some, but it’s how you come out as a team in the end,” said Baker junior Brittney Herrera. “Then that for me is a win-win.”

District 3A-12: Bishop Verot advances to the regional final round after shutting out Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 3-0 Tuesday night.

McKenna Duquette scored two goals and Kady Otzko added one goal and one assist for the Vikings. Goalkeepers Chryssie Gibson and Cailyn Rizzo made two and three saves, respectively in stopping all five shots by Mooney.

“What won it for us was defense, defense, defense,” said Vikings coach Randy Zavada.

The Vikings host St. Petersburg Catholic at Viking Stadium Friday night.