Coral Gables upsets Cypress Bay in boys’ soccer
The Coral Gables boys’ soccer team didn’t set any lofty goals for itself as it made the trip to Weston on Wednesday night to face reigning state champion Cypress Bay.
The Cavaliers just focused on putting together the best effort possible.
It resulted in one of their best victories in recent memory as Gables ousted the six-time state champions from the playoffs following a 3-1 triumph in a Region 4-7A quarterfinal.
“We just wanted to have a good game and play to the best of our abilities against a multiple state championship team,” Coral Gables coach Michel Fotso said. “We had a game plan and we had our chances and made them count.”
The Cavaliers (9-5-1), the No. 6 seed in the region, advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2020 and will host No. 7 seed Palmetto — a 1-0 winner over No. 2 seed Columbus — on Saturday at a site and time to be determined. Gables has not made it past the regional semifinal round since 1981.
After Stefano Fernandidni drew a foul inside the 18-yard box, Jordan Bueso’s penalty-kick goal early in the second half broke a 1-1 tie and put Gables ahead for good. Bueso then assisted on Anthony Roles Fotso’s goal with five minutes remaining.
Joseph Olivero scored off a corner kick from Bruce Tomasso in the first half.
The Cavaliers avenged a loss to Cypress Bay in the regional quarterfinals last season and in the regional semis in 2020.
“The third time was the
charm,” Fotso said. “I have only two seniors and I have a lot of freshmen and 10th-graders. I have youngsters that just play very well together. I think this is the spark we needed to be able to confirm the talent that’s in them. I wouldn’t be surprised if we continue to go further but I always say, ‘Let’s go to the next game and live to fight for another day.’ ”
MEMORABLE MAKOS
As the evening sun slowly set behind them, the MAST Academy boys’ soccer players stood and sat in a circle on their home field.
Each took turns thanking their teammates and coaches for what had been a special season for their program.
It wasn’t supposed to end so soon for the Makos.
But just as their historic first district championship
a week ago was a thrilling new experience, so was their deflating penalty-kick shootout loss to Key West in a Region 4-4A quarterfinal on Wednesday.
“I have known these kids for four years and we’ve been building a program here and it’s unbelievable the feeling of accomplishment,” MAST coach Rui Gomes said. “I know we lost but we broke a lot of records for the school, and I’m super proud of them. This is life. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But we’re a family.”
Just a week ago, the Makos (13-5-1) took down a pair of state powerhouses, beating Gulliver Prep and reigning Class 4A state champion St. Brendan to win the District 16-4A championship and clinch only the program’s third trip to the regional playoffs all-time.
When MAST’s Luka Szymanski, who scored four goals in the win over St. Brendan, scored in the first minute of the second half, the school’s first regional playoff win appeared to be in sight.
But 19 minutes later, the Conchs’ Jonathan Gvili knotted the score at 1.
Unable to capitalize on some opportunities in overtime, the match went to PKs where Key West prevailed 4-2 after Szymanski and Diego Olivarria each misfired on their shots.
“It wasn’t our day. We had a lot of chances and we didn’t finish them,” Gomes said. “And PKs are always some lucky shots. But we didn’t lack anything this season. In my eyes, we had a perfect season.”
It’s hard to fault Gomes for his upbeat look even after a tough defeat.
MAST went 1-6-1 just a season ago.
There were no guarantees that the Makos’ core of 10 seniors would remain intact or how much of a difference they could make.
But led by Nicolas Alvarez (17 goals), Szymanski (13 goals) and Lucas Keller (11 goals) and goalkeepers Victor Kersting and Jorge Feijoo, who played in only the shootout on Wednesday due to an illness the past couple of days, MAST put together its best season ever.
Despite losing that large group of talent, Gomes will return a strong group of underclassmen he believes will continue to build off this season’s success.
“You can build a program with a short vision and you might have success for one year,” Gomes said. “But we’re trying to have a structure. We’re trying to build something way bigger.”
Region 4-3A quarterfinal — NSU University School 3, Miami Country Day 1:
Raul Leyva scored two goals and Rafael Guerra added one to lead the Sharks (16-1-1). Evan Herman, Roger Baptiste and Nico Marques had the assists.
Region 4-4A quarterfinal — Cardinal Gibbons 1, Somerset Academy 1 (Gibbons wins 5-4 in PKs): Danny PerretGentile had the lone goal in regulation for the Chiefs (12-4-4) on an assist from Dylan Garcia, and also converted one of the penalty kicks. Jason Trujillo, Alejandro Herrera, Felix Azpurrua and Eugene Gibbons also made their attempts in the shootout and will travel to face St. Brendan on Saturday.
Region 4-4A quarterfinal — Gulliver 3, Jensen Beach 2 (OT): Tomas Sciarra scored in overtime for the Raiders (12-4-2) assisted by Taro Ochi and Cosme Salas. Enrique Mesejo scored in regulation on another Salas assist and George Lombard was outstanding defensively. Gulliver will face Key West Saturday at 7 at FIU Soccer Stadium.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal — La Salle 2, Pine Crest 1: Santiago Sanchez scored both goals to lead the Royal Lions. Marlon Marin and Mario Bardi each had one assist.
Region 4-5A quarterfinal — Plantation American Heritage 7, Bayside 0: Jason Ebanks led the Patriots (15-1-2) with three goals. Andres Morral scored two goals and had three assists. Wiley Shaw and Jelani Morgan-Sawyers each had one goal. Juan Otero, Chase Perry, Nicholas Weyenberg and Kristian Gamache each had one assist. Goalkeepers Hernando Ardila and Andre Faerman combined for the shutout.
MORE SCORES
Region 4-7A: Palmetto 1, Columbus 0; Doral 0, Coral Reef 0 (Doral won 4-2 on penalty kicks); Monarch 2, Stoneman Douglas 1; 4-6A: McArthur 3, Miami Beach 2; Varela 2, Blanche Ely 1; South Broward 6, Mater Academy 0; St. Thomas Aquinas 8, Coral Park 0; 4-5A: TERRA 2, Mourning 0; Pembroke Pines Charter 2, Reagan 1; Belen Jesuit 1, Archbishop McCarthy 0; 4-4A: St. Brendan 5, Jackson 1; 4-3A: Ransom Everglades 2, SLAM 1; Palmer Trinity 3, Westminster Christian 1; 4-2A: Scheck Hillel 4, Highlands Christian 0; Archimedean 3, Avant Garde Academy 1; Archbishop Carroll 3, Posnack 0; Berean Christian 3, Riviera Prep 2.