By Official Florida FC
Gulf Breeze picked the wrong time to lose its first game of the season. The Dolphins (17-1) were upset by five-loss Fort Walton Beach in the District 1-5A tournaent final on Feb. 11.
Their penance is a long trip to Jacksonville to face reigning Region 1-5A champion Stanton College Prep in the first round of the FHSAA Class 5A boys soccer playoffs. Stanton (10-1-5), Daytona Beach Seabreeze (12-2-2), Ponte Vedra are all lingering in a loaded region.
Reigning state champions Tampa Jesuit (13-1-2) may be the team to beat in the classification. The Tigers have won eight straight and conceded nine goals this season.
Jesuit has not allowed a goal during the winning streak it rode into the postseason. Eric Sims’ side has a balanced attack, no one has scored more than 10 goals, but five players have scored five or more goals this season. Jesuit will host Auburndale (10-6-1) in a Region 2-5A quarterfinal.
Elsewhere, Miami Belen Jesuit (13-3-1) finished the regular season ranked fifth in the classification. The Wolverines are one of just two teams in Region 4-5A ranked inside the top 20 of the final regular season rankings for the classification.
Belen and Last year’s state finalist, Pembroke Pines Charter (9-2-1), will likely meet in a Region 4-5A semifinal. The winner of that game may have smooth sailing until the state final.
