Boca Raton looking to ‘reload’ to defend state title

Despite graduating 10 seniors a year ago, Boca Raton boys soccer coach Marcelo Castillo believes his defending Class 7A state championship team may “not be looking to so much rebuild but reload” for another potential state title run.

Adding their fourth state title in program history, the Bobcats (28-0-0) accomplished perfection, capping off their undefeated season with a 2-0 victory against Orlando Boone in the state championship. Boca Raton also won championships in 1990, 2010 and 2016.

“The team that we had last year, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of achievement,” Castillo said, who’s never had a losing record in his 16 years with the program.

“For us to have the best record ever in the history of Florida in boys soccer, obviously, we’re happy to achieve that. Last year is the past and was a great season; we went down in the history books. But we’re starting fresh.

“We want to stay humble. We want to stay hungry.”

Led by back-to-back Sun Sentinel Palm Beach 7A-6A Boys Soccer Player of the Year Joao Negrao, Boca Raton dominated its opposition, outscoring its opponents 108-3. Recording a team-best 21 goals and 26 assists last season, Negrao’s departure will leave a significant void for the Bobcats.

“He was only the second kid that I’ve ever had here that has won it [Sun Sentinel Boys Soccer Player of the Year award],” Castillo said. “Those types of players only come around every few years. Any time we’ve lost a player of the year, we’ve been lucky enough to have somebody else step up.”

With four potential starters coming back, senior Ryan Baker and sophomore Caleb Chapman will be looked upon to fuel the squad back to the state title game.

Baker scored nine goals last season, including six-game winning shots, to go along with his three assists. Chapman, who was a freshman standout for the Bobcats, also posted nine goals while racking up 10 assists.

For University School, the opportunity to defend its Class 3A state title may be on life support with the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defeating Tampa Catholic 3-0 in the state finals, the Sharks (21-0-2) raised their second state championship, winning their first since 2011.

“We graduated 12 seniors and did not have many new incoming students this year due to COVID-19,” University School coach Thiago Oliveira said. “This year — if we play — will be all about rebuilding our program.

“We currently have four eighth graders, one seventh grader and even one sixth grader rostered. We have a young team this year.”

U-School is unable to play any matches until January, and NSU University President George Hanbury II will reassess whether the team will be allowed to compete this upcoming season.

In addition to the strains caused by COVID-19, the Sharks will also be faced with the difficult task of replacing its Sun Sentinel Broward 5A-2A Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Sebastian “Nino” Smith, along with 11 other graduated seniors.

Collecting 14 goals and 32 assists last season, Smith finished his career with 32 goals and an eye-opening 94 assists.

“He was one of the most skillful players I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Oliveira said. “He was certainly by far the most dedicated and focused athlete I’ve ever coached.

“Julio Rodriguez is one of Nino’s best friends and has learned a lot from Nino in the past. I think he is more than ready to lead our group as one of the team captains.”

Having previously played in limited action, Rodriguez, who is a senior, has collected six goals and one assist in his career.

Holding the second team captain slot, senior Carlos Levy is also expected to assume a larger role for the Sharks after posting three goals and two assists last season.

Still i n the hunt for their first state championship, South Broward and Pembroke Pines Charter come into the season with the hopes of avenging losses in the state finals.

Defeated i n a lategame heartbreaker, South Broward (18-5-2) gave up four goals in overtime to lose to Niceville 7-3 in the Class 6A state championship.

Graduating 10 seniors from the previous season, Nico Robles looks to assume a larger role for the Bulldogs, following his solid six-goal and 10-assist junior campaign.

“I think he’s going to be very good for us this year. He actually scored two goals for us in the finals,” South Broward coach Lionel Brown said. “He’s been very versatile in the midfield for us. He’s going to be one of the main guys that’s going to huge for us this year when it comes to galvanizing and getting the guys together.”

Fellow senior Matthew Randall will also be a main contributor for South Broward after compiling five goals and nine assists a season ago.

Getting to the state finals for the first time, Pembroke Pines Charter (18-3-2) fell short of making program history, losing to Tampa Jesuit 5-4 in the Class 5A state championship.

Headlined by Nicholas Roman, the Jaguars will return an experienced roster as they bring back eight seniors.

“Nicholas Roman for us is one of the top players in high school as well as club soccer here in South Florida,” Pembroke Pines Charter co-coach Marc Lue Young, who coaches with his cousin Nicholas Lue Young.

“He has this aggressive mentality when he picks up the ball. He wants to either score or wants to assist via playmaker. He’s one of the players that has those killer instincts.”

Placing first on the team in assists (12), Roman complemented his stellar distributing ability by recording 22 goals.

Other players to watch Broward

American Heritage:

Carlos Palacio, MF; John Jago, D; Cardinal Gibbons:

Frank Roig, MF; Greg Priyen, MF; Noah Hart, D; Coral Springs: Michael Castillo, MF; Cypress Bay: William Torres, D; Fort Lauderdale: Gabriel Gonzalez, MF;

Miramar: Shawn Smikle, MF; Monarch: Jonathan Silva, MF; Matheus Alves, F; Zayne Palomino, F; North

Broward Prep: Christian Dohler, MF; Ethan Strati, D; Martin Campedelli, F;

Pembroke Pines Charter:

Alek Coupet, D; Matthew Gordon, D; St. Thomas

Aquinas: Fernando Velasco, D; Matthew Pryce, MF;

South Broward: Matthew

Randall, F; University

School: Ethan Subachan, F; Western: Michael Torres, F; Westminster Academy: Bence Demko, F; Ethan Rose, D; Julian Camejo, MF; Micah Lewis, MF;

Palm Beach

American Heritage-Delray: Anthony Vargas, MF; Chris Knight, F; Conor Deal, D; Ethan Scala, D;

Atlantic: Dakendy Philibert, D; Sumeet Jenna, GK; Benjamin: Trevor Natalie, F; Boca Raton: Daniel Trani, MF; Boca Raton Christian: Danny Coelho, F; Greg Martens, D; Liam Barker, GK; Cardinal Newman:

Thomas Marciano, MF; Donna Klein: Ariel Magin, MF; King’s Academy: Bernie Cueto, D; Eric Bowden, D; Jared Brown, F; Sean Corrigan, MF; Lake Worth Christian: Craig Hanlon, F; Gary Lucian, F; Henry Lukosavich, MF; Ryan Rahde, MF; Thomas Rogers, D; Olympic

Heights: Brett Mazo, MF; Roberto Bontempi, F; Park

Vista: Andrew Labrec, F; Liam Lazere, D; Luke Ferazzoli, MF; Nathan Parks, GK; Royal Palm Beach: Vicente De Brito, MF; St. Andrew’s: Bobby Lomax, MF; Jonathan Hertz, D; Joseph England, GK; Timothy Martin, MF; St. John Paul II: Alan Alvarez, MF; Jorge Marzo, F; JT Salvato, D; Thanh Tung Vu, MF; Seminole Ridge: Rene Daal, MF; Spanish River: David Gabbay, D; Diago Reyes, MF; Isaac Schweiger, D; Tayton Osborne, GK; Tyler Jones, F; Suncoast:

Ryan Bourne, MF;

Important dates

Feb. 1-10: District tournaments

Feb. 17: Regional tournament quarterfinals

Feb. 20: Regional tournament semifinals

Feb. 23: Regional tournament finals

Feb. 26: State semifinals March 3-6: State championships