TITLE TILT: Centennial to final
Centennial boys soccer team dominated the first half, dominated the second half but still was wrapped up in a 0-0 tie with Treasure Coast at the end of regulation in a District 10-7A semifinal on Monday at South County Stadium.
Centennial is used to ties — posting six of them this season. And now 80 minutes in, Centennial was tied up again.
But in overtime on the biggest stage, Centennial erupted for two goals in the 20-minute extra session and posted a 2-0 victory to advance.
Centennial (6-1-6) will face Jupiter (11-1-2) in Wednesday’s Finals.
“We hit the post two times in regulation and their goalie was outstanding,’’ Centennial coach Doug Black said. “We dominated play. They may have had one shot on our goal that wasn’t off a free kick. The only time they threatened us was free kick.’’
The dam burst when Draven Sanchez notched the game’s first goal 10 minutes into overtime, dribbling past his defender, going 1-on-1 with the goalie and firing in a 7-yarder. Julian Garcia followed to ice the game 11 minutes later, getting a pass on the wide left, cutting inside as his defender slipped. Garcia got into the middle and banged home a 10-yard bullet.
Treasure Coast goalie Manny German De Leon kept Treasure Coast in the game.
“They defended well most of the game and we couldn’t get one by them and Manny made a lot of good stops,’’ Black said. “He made legitimate good saves. They committed to defending and did a great job of it.’’
Jupiter, led by forward Erick Garcia, is up next for Centennial.
“They’ve very good with two very quick and skilled forwards,’’ Black said. “They have a lot of speed up top.’’
In the other semifinal Monday, Jupiter routed Fort Pierce Central, 9-1, as Garcia scored two goals.
But the score was deceiving and Fort Pierce Central never stood a chance. Not after having two players ejected with direct red card for cursing 10 minutes into the second half.
After trailing by just 2-1, Fort St. Pierce got blown away in the final 40 minutes.
The players who got the heave-ho were to players Jesus Esquivel
Nicolas Payen. Fort Pierce had to play 9 vs. 11 the final 30 minutes because their red cards do not allow substitutes.
“It’s rough going down players,’’ coach Arthur Reuter said. “Kids lose their heads and get upset and cuss, usually at themselves. They know they can’t do that — the foul language. They’re trying to cut down on the language.”
Originally, they were awarded yellow cards but as they walked off the field the kids continued to make salty comments toward the referees.
“It’s tough going down players,’’ Reuter said. “They’re an OK team. We just had some mistakes in the back in the first half with their two goals. They had decent players and a tall team. The second half was hard to tell anything playing a couple men short and losing the game like that.’’
Robert Amritt Jr. scored the goal for Fort Pierce Central. Reuter said both goals by Jupiter early were flukish by nature, mishaps from the goalkeeper.
Fort Pierce finished with a 9-5-2 record — its best clip in five years.