The Harmony girls, Celebration boys and Gateway boys soccer teams all scored playoff wins Tuesday night and will move on to Friday's regional semifinals.
GIRLS CLASS 7A: Harmony 1, Vero Beach 0
There probably wasn’t a ton of expectations when the Longhorns hosted long-time foe Vero Beach Tuesday.
Harmony had never beaten Vero Beach in girls’ soccer (0-10-1 all time) and were knocked out 0f the post-season in three previous regionals by the Indians. Add to that that Vero manhandled Harmony 5-0 in a regular season game less than a month ago.
Despite the history, the gutsy Longhorns would not be denied Tuesday. Junior striker Gabriella Guzman blasted home a shot from distance with seven minutes remaining and the Longhorns defense made it hold up in a 1-0 win.
The victory puts the Longhorns (13-5-1) on the road against the region’s top-seed Jupiter (17-1-3) in Friday’s regional semifinal.
After taking a pass and dribbling past one defender, Guzman’s game winner came off her left foot from about 25 yards out with pace.
“I knew I had a defender closing in on my right side and normally I prefer to shoot with my right foot, but I just decided to let it fly,” Guzman said. “I had a good look but I was still a little surprised it went in.”
“We were missing a couple of players in that first game with Vero, but the real difference tonight came with our preparation. We watched a lot of film from that and we came out and executed our game plan,” Harmony coach Scott Marlega said. “It wasn’t really a pretty win and we didn’t generate a ton of positive opportunities on offense, but we did enough to win. It really came down to who wanted it more – and we played 80 minutes of hard, solid soccer.”
Marlega added that he was not surprised the game-winner came from Guzman. “She has been great for us all season. As soon as it left foot, I felt it had a chance.”
Although a lot of the first half was played at midfield, Vero did look like the better side before intermission. They led in shots on goal, 5-2, and barely missed taking the lead 12:44 into the game when Darfur Martinez’s blast bounced off the right post and Ratelle Lynch’s rebound shot from in front of the net bounced off the cross bar. Harmony goalie Faith Hizer made a big save later in the period and her defense swept two other shots off the line to keep the game scoreless at the half.
Marlega made a defensive adjustment at the half, moving one of his forwards back to midfield. That disrupted the Vero Beach offense, who managed to get just one shot on target in the second half. Harmony controlled possession throughout the second half and made several long runs but with the forward back they could manage to put just three shots on net – but one was Guzman’s game winner. The shutout was Hizer’s 10th clean sheet on the season.
As for Friday’s semifinal against state-power Jupiter, Marlega said it “Will be a tall task, especially on the road. But we’re playing with some confidence right now.”
BOYS CLASS 7A: Celebration 4, Ft. Pierce Central 0
Sophomore midfielder/forward Joao Pedro Oliveira opened the scoring for the Storm (14-3-1), setting the tone for what would become a decisive win. The offensive onslaught continued when senior midfielder Abraham Badillo Santana orchestrated a skillful play that culminated in senior forward Victor Mora finding the back of the net off a rebound.
The Storm's depth proved valuable in the second half when sophomore forward Diego Unda, who entered as a substitute in the 65th minute, demonstrated exceptional hustle by winning possession and converting a one-on-one opportunity against the goalkeeper. The final goal came in the closing minutes as junior midfielder Thiago Pereira's centered ball forced an own goal from a Central Cobras defender, cementing the Storm's dominance.
The Storm's attention now turns to a highly anticipated playoff matchup Friday at the Lake Nona Lions (13-1-4) on Friday,. February 7. This contest features two of Florida's most formidable soccer programs, with both teams boasting impressive records and statistics.
BOYS CLASS 5A: Gateway 5, Leesburg 0
Adrian Rodriguez and Edgardo Vazquez each tallied two goals Tuesday as the Panthers (17-2) dictated the play for 80 minutes against the visiting Yellow Jackets (13-4-1). Vazquez fired a laser from 22 yards out in the 22nd minute to get Gateway on the board, and Gateway never looked back.
"Honestly, we played that way against Innovation (in the District 5A-7 championship game, a 1-0 loss), we just couldn't get that break through," longtime GHS Coach Sagar Patel said. "We made (Leesburg) chase us.
While Leesburg tried to clog the middle of the field, the Panthers were quick to run around it from the wings -- or simply fly through the middle. GHS added to the lead twice in a span of four minutes on Luis Moreno's left-footed shot from close range in the 32nd minute and Rodriguez's first goal, when he banged home the rebound of his own shot, in the 36th for a 3-0 first half lead.
Vazquez scored again in the 51st minute -- he would have had a hat trick if a first-half shot hadn't banged off the goal post -- and Rodriguez added a penalty kick int he 67th minute.
The Panthers, expected a rematch with Innovation Friday, instead will host New Port Richey River Ridge (12-7-2), who beat the Bulls 4-0 Tuesday.
"I'm impressed how these boys have stayed grounded, they're making this fun," Patel said. "At practice (Monday), I said, 'Don't make this the last practice, don't make (Tuesday) the last game.'"
