ORANGE PARK – Last nights District 4-3A boys soccer semifinals at Ridgeview provided fans plenty of excitement and a huge upset as well. The five hours of soccer was well worth the price of admission for those in attendance.
In the first semifinal, No. 6 Matanzas stunned No. 2 Ponte Vedra (11-6-1) in penalty kicks; while No. 1 and host Ridgeview had little trouble with No. 4 Menendez (8-9-1) in a 6-1 win.
Matanzas 2, Ponte Vedra 1 (PKs)
After giving up the tying goal in a flurry of attacks midway through the second half, Matanzas keeper Brandt Herron likely wanted a second chance.
He got it in the form of penalty kicks.
Herron made two key saves and watched two other penaalty icks sail high over the cross bar allowing No. 6 Matanzas to stun No. 2 Ponte Vedra 2-1 in the District 4-3A semifinals.
Ironically the two teams played in the title game last year with the Pirates winning. As the district runner-ups, Ponte Vedra went on the road in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the Final Four.
Unfortunately there wont be a Final Four run this season as superb defensive play kept the Sharks off the scoreboard for nearly the whole game.
Especially Herron, who survived shot after shot early on and during crunch time midway through the game.
Hill Lansing 40 yard free kick was headed by Steven Sifones and saved by Herron eight minutes into the game.
Lansing shot ten minutes later was punched out by Herron and a free kick from Hill ten minutes later was again punched out by Herron.
Nathan Hubbs, who took every corner kick and throw in for the Pirates the entire game, finally found himself with the ball for once.
Hubbs 45 yard free kick sailed high over Ponte Vedra keeper Brian Salsman head near the goal and off the head of a Sharks defender for a 1-0 Matanzas lead with 3:49 left till halftime.
Herron survived a plethora of bullets as the Sharks finally found holes through the Pirates defense in the second half.
After Herron made another quick save , Hubbs nearly burned a charging Salsman, who came up towards him but the shot sailed out of bounds.
Sifones appeared to have finally snuck one past Herron for an apparent goal tying the game at one all but the official ruled offsides on Sifones.
A minute later, the Pirates were called for a handball violation allowing Sifones a chance of redemption.
Sifones penalty kick was saved by Herron, the rebound landed in front of Nico Gosendi who fired in the goal but again Herron was there to deny the shot.
The shot rolled out of bounds allowing the Sharks a corner kick, which was quickly fired towards Herron who made another amazing save his fourth in minutes.
A minute later, Ben McBrayer finally snuck one past Herron tying the game at one all with 20 minutes left in the game.
A devastated Herron survived an arsenal of multiple shots before finally allowing a goal.
Matanzas nearly took the lead back as Vincent Constanza almost kicked a cross into the net for the Pirates with 9 minutes left.
Sifones free kick sailed wide left with six minutes keeping the game knotted at one all.
As the clock wound down, reality began to set in the game was headed for overtime and sudden death golden goal. After two ten minute halves of overtime, the game headed into penalty kicks. Both teams sent five players to the west side of the as both teams would alternate penalty kicks to decide it.
Sifones went first and sent a high shot off the port; Zach Verdi followed for Matanzas with a shot past Salsman putting the Pirates up 1-0 after one kick.
Gosendi was next and sent a shot straight at Herron who denied him easily. Salsman rejected the ensuing shot from Matanzas keeping it 1-0 after two kicks.
Alex Martinez shot was saved by Herron in the right corner and Hubbs followed with a shot past Salsman giving Matanzas a 2-0 lead after three kicks.
It all came down to James Rossi from Ponte Vedra, a goal would extend the kick session to all five kicks, however a miss would end their season.
Herron dug into deep needing one more save to send the Pirates back to the playoffs for the second straight year.
Rossi sent a shot high over the cross bar and through the goal posts sending the Pirates sideline into a state of euphoria.
Matanzas (13-6) continues their magical run through the district tournament after knocking off No 3 Orange Park 5-1 in its opener and No. 2 Ponte Vedra 2-1 last night.
Since the Christmas break the Pirates are 8-1 and full of confidence heading into the title game and the playoffs.
Ridgeview 6, Menendez 1
After an hour and three minute delay due to the first semifinal going to penalty kicks, Ridgeview didn’t waste anytime in its semifinal game with Pedro Menendez.
Miguel Ortiz found the back of the net barely four minutes into the game to give the host Panthers a quick 1-0 lead.
Pele Blackley added to the lead finding the back left corner of the net for a 2-0 lead twelve minutes in.
Menendez first real threat came with Sam Mitchell firing a shot wide left of the goal halfway through the first half.
As both teams went into the water break at the 20 minute mark, Ridgeview held a 2-0 lead and looked in total control.
Ortiz scored his second goal of the night in the right side of the net on an assist from Andy Prestridge for a 3-0 lead with eight minutes left in the half.
Two and half minutes later, football star Jaiden Turner playing in his first varsity game headed a ball into the right corner for a 4-0 lead off Prestridge third assist of the first half.
Up 4-0 at the half, Ridgeview clearly was in control of the game and well on its way to hosting the 4-3A final Friday night.
Mitchell fired another shot that sailed wide right keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard still in the second half.
Jose Ortiz placed a ball into the right side of the net off an assist from Charles Barrett for a 5-0 lead at the 60 minute mark.
Ten minutes later, Cameron Sharp fired a shot off a deflection shot from Miguel Ortiz for a 6-0 lead in the 69 minute mark.
Longtime Ridgeview coach began clearing his bench in the second half allowing several backups to get in the game.
With 1:34 left, Justin Lawshe broke free and weaved his way though defenders and put a ball into the left corner to put the Falcons finally on the board nullifying the shut out.
The win clinched the Panthers first playoff berth since 2013 as top seed Ridgeview (11-1-1) will host No. 6 Matanzas (12-6) in the 4-3A title game Friday night at 7 p.m.
Both teams have already clinched playoff spots with wins last night, although the winner of the title game secures a first round home playoff game.
