Lourdes soccer coach Ray Walden remembers how he felt years ago when he watched one of his teams get handled at state by a nationally ranked opponent.

Walden wondered then if his team would ever be able to truly compete for a state championship.

Seven years later, the Bobcats are ready.

With the same sharp skill and technique it has displayed throughout the season, Lourdes handled another of the state’s best Friday night, routing Palm Beach Central 4-0 in a Class 5A state semifinal at Columbus.

The Bobcats (20-2) advanced to their first state final by scoring four second-half goals, including three in a 20-minute span against the Broncos (21-2), who were three days removed from eliminating defending national champion …