JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – When the Fletcher Senators went into the locker room tied at 1 with state number 1 and nationally ranked Tallahassee Leon, head boys soccer coach Rob Holstein knew that his team had a chance.
"We knew that if we could score first in the second half, we would have a shot. We haven't given up many goals this year, so we knew that would give us a really good chance," Holstein said right before his team drenched him in a congratulatory ice water bath.
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Just seven minutes into the second half, Van Slabicki put the Senators ahead as his diving header from a James Schaefer throw in found the back of the net to make it 2-1 Fletcher.
Five minutes later, it was Schaefer with his 2nd goal of the night. The free kick from 25 yards out was the goal of the night, hitting the upper 90, making it 3-1.
The Senators scored their 3rd goal in 10 minutes as Marcus Van Liere headed home a free kick from Marcus Bolwell to make it 4-1 as they would hold on for the 4-3 win over Tallahassee Leon, advancing to the state final four.
"I always thought we had a chance but I didn't know we were going to come together like this," said James Schaefer. "It has been amazing watching everyone grow and the team get better as a whole."
The Senators next travel to Auburndale for the class 4A state semifinal on Saturday at 7.
Ponte Vedra 3 Panama City Arnold 1
A hat trick from the Sharks James Morales punched Ponte Vedra's ticket to the class 3A final four with a 3-1 win over Panama City Arnond, who were ranked number 10 in the nation.
Ponte Vedra is now 15-3-2 and will face Daytona Beach Seabreeze on Saturday night for the 2nd time in the last 3 years in the class 3A semifinal
Pensacola Catholic 2 Bolles 1
The Bulldogs season ends with a 2-1 loss to Pensacola Catholic on the road on Wednesday night. Senior striker Frank Iturriga scored for Bolles just before the half, but a Crusaders goal in the 52nd minute was the difference. Bolles finishes with a record of 15-5-3
Orangewood Christian 0 St. Johns C.D. 0 (2-4 PK's)
After no scores through regulation and two overtimes, the Spartans fell to Orangewood Christian on the road 2-4 in penalty kicks. St. Johns C.D. had beaten the number 1 team in the state in class 1A but finishes the season at 14-3-1 after the regional final loss on Wednesday night