Dolphins go 1-2 at Tampa tourney
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Eric Keasler (left) avoids a tackle in a recent GBHS match.

The Gulf Breeze soccer team won one in penalty kicks and lost one in penalty kicks before giving up three second half goals in a 4-1 loss to defending 4A state champion Jensen Beach Friday at the Student Sports Invitational in Tampa.

“I think it went pretty well,” coach Bruce Savage said. “We had two or three good opportunities against Clearwater Central Catholic and Jensen Beach that we didn’t capitalize on. They came back to haunt us.”

The Dolphins (11-2-4), playing without injured Christian Mauldwin and Leland Davis, along with Ross Sakey, Kyle Losoya and Andrew Davis, edged Land O’Lakes 7-6 in a penalty kick shootout on Thursday.

Johnny Miller had 13 saves in regulation before Chris Thomas’ penalty kick gave Gulf Breeze the win.

The Dolphins played Clearwater Central Catholic to a scoreless tie in regulation before losing 3-0 in PKs. Richard Benson was in goal for the match against CCC, who have won nine state championships in the last 25 years.

The Dolphins’ leading scorer, Cory Gibson, rifled a shot off the post in the first half.

Jeff Lanza scored the Dolphins’ lone goal in regulation for the weekend, fielding a long

punt by Miller and scoring with 10 minutes left in the first half to tie the match at 1.

“We just ran out of steam - ran out of defenders,” Savage said. The Dolphins got stellar play

out of defender Brad Parrish, who played all but two minutes in the three matches.

The Dolphins return to action at home on January 5 against Tallahassee Lincoln.