Boca Raton boys, girls prepare for semis
While spring season begins to take center stage for most schools, Boca Raton is still very much invested in a soccer season for the ages.
The Boca Raton boys and girls programs will be playing for a chance at the state championship, with each squad playing their respective semifinal match on Thursday.
The Boca boys will be looking for their fourth state championship under head coach Marcelo Castillo, while head coach Rachael Grimes will be looking for her first state championship with the girls.
Boca girls soccer No. 2 Boca Raton vs. No. 3 Newsome
The Bobcats (17-2-2) will face off against Newsome (22-1) with a trip to the state finals on the line. Boca will bring a series of playoff blowouts to the table against the Wolves’ 18-game win streak.
The semifinal match is set for Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the first of two Class 7A state semifinal matches.
Boca has been to three state championships under Grimes. The last time Boca had been to the state semifinals was in Grimes’ senior year at Boca High.
Sometimes it comes down to the bounces just not going your way. On Thursday, the hope is that the fourth time’s the charm in DeLand.
“We’ve never played each other,” Grimes said of the impending matchup against Newsome. “I don’t think any of us have, besides seeing their name in the rankings, ever heard of them. We had no common opponents. We just know they beat a very good Palm Harbor opponent that we beat in the semifinals last year.”
Of course, any team that has made it this far in the quest for a title has racked up a bevy of accolades.
Last year’s trip to DeLand was “new and almost overwhelming” in that it was the first time this group of Boca players had defied such expectations for a young, new roster.
This year, there is a different fire. They’ve been there and they’ve done that, but there is a fresh drive to come out on top.
“I’m just really excited to be back to the state championship tournament,” Grimes said. “You’re never guaranteed, no matter how great your team is, no matter what your expectations are. It’s tough to get here. I’m excited for the team. I’m excited for my program.”
“We’re happy that we get another crack at it,” she said.
Boca boys soccer No. 2 Windermere vs. No. 3 Boca Raton
It will be the first time the two programs have met in the time that Castillo has been at the helm of Boca Raton soccer.
The undefeated Bobcats (22-0-2) travel to Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand to take on Central Florida juggernaut Windermere (16-1-1) at 4 p.m. in the first Class 7A boys state semifinal match on Thursday.
“We’ve managed to watch some film on them, but it’s the final four,” Castillo said. “No matter who got here, they had to be a regional champion. There are no more teams that are lucky to be where they’re at. It’s the top of the food chain, the creme de la creme.”
Boca Raton’s boys program has had proven success at this level, winning the state championship in 2010, 2016 and 2020 under Castillo.
Before he took over the program, the Bobcats last won the title in 1992.
“The boys are excited,” Castillo said. “They’re looking forward to the experience. Regarding practices, this isn’t a time for fitness or to teach anything new besides execution and tweaking.”
The execution has been stellar for Boca this season — the team has a real shot to go undefeated after running the table in the regular season up through regionals.
In that time, they’ve allowed just seven goals in 24 games, while blasting opponents for 90 goals of their own. On Thursday, the message is simple: The records don’t matter.
“We could be 10-10 and be in this exact position,” Castillo said. “We can’t rest on what they’ve done all season. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what their record is, what our record is. All it is now is essentially a final on Thursday because if you don’t win, your season’s done.”
Boca’s programs have a chance to make school history just a few hours apart.
“I’m hoping our girls do well,” Castillo said. “I’m hoping we do well. And maybe we’ll have two Boca Raton high
school teams in the final come Saturday.”