State finals in sight for locals

Area boys soccer teams are one win away from reaching the FHSAA state semifinals.

Region final matches play out on Wednesday with Lake Mary, Winter Park, Celebration and Orangewood Christian hosting games. Lake Highland Prep travels to face The Villages.

Winners advance to state semifinal matches on Saturday.

The boys soccer state championships will be played at DeLand’s Spec Martin Stadium next week on Thursday (Classes 1A and 2A) and Saturday (Classes 3A, 4A, 5A).

All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Admission is $7.

Class 5A, Region 1

Port Orange Spruce Creek at Lake Mary

Records: Spruce Creek (18-4-3); Lake Mary (21-5-1).

Buzz: Spruce Creek is in a region final for first time since reaching state semifinals in 2008 and 2011. Lake Mary, twotime state runners-up, is playing in a region final for the third time this decade (2010, 2016).

Next: Winner plays at Winter Park or Lakewood Ranch.

Class 5A, Region 2

Bradenton Lakewood Ranch at Winter Park At Showalter Field

Records: Lakewood Ranch (19-1-2); Winter Park (14-2-1).

Buzz: Wilmer Yanez has scored 26 goals for Lakewood Ranch, which finished second at state in 2017 and reached a state semi in 2014. Winter Park, state runners-up in 2016, is unbeaten in its past 13 matches. Next: Winner hosts Lake Mary or Spruce Creek.

Class 5A, Region 3

Lake Worth Park Vista at Celebration Records: Park Vista (9-3-6); Celebration (20-1-2). Buzz: Park Vista is in a region final for first time despite scoring just 40 goals this season. Luis Mora has 27 goals and 16 assists for 2018 state semifinalist Celebration, which is unbeaten in its past 18 matches. Next: Winner plays at Miami Dr. Krop or Miami Varela.

Class 2A, Region 2

Lake Highland Prep at The Villages, 6

Records: Lake Highland Prep (13-3-2); Villages (8-4-2).

Buzz: Lake Highland Prep, a state runner-up in 2011, last reached a final four in 2013. Anthony Ascencio has 16 goals for Villages, which lost by one goal in 2016 and 2017 region finals.

Next: Winner hosts Jacksonville Bolles or Pensacola Catholic.

Class 1A, Region 1

Orange Park St. Johns Country Day at Orangewood Christian, 6

Records: St. Johns Country Day (13-2-1); Orangewood Christian (15-3-0).

Buzz: Country Day is playing in a region final for the third time (2007, 2009). Orangewood won a state title in 2015, finished state runners-up in 2016, and reached region finals in 2017 before suffering first-round loss last season.

Next: Winner plays at St. Petersburg Shorecrest or Fort Myers Canterbury.