Soccer wins hard fought battle vs. Raiders
Dolphins give up first goal of season - in 730 minutes of play, win 2-1
BY JOSH JURNOVOY AND SCOTT PAGE Special to the News

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Scott Jaffe throws the ball in during a recent Dolphin match.

The Gulf Breeze Dolphin soccer team defeated Navarre 2- 1 in a game where stellar play by both goalies was key to both team's performances.

The Dolphins' Brad Parrish almost scored in the fourth minute when he received a Thomas Farmer pass shot on a breakaway, but Navarre's goalie made a diving save.

Parrish did score in the sixth minute when Dolphin defender Christian Mauldwin crossed the ball from the left, across the field to Parrish, who headed it right of the goalie.

Gulf Breeze extended their lead to 2-0 when Dolphin forward Hunter Hickman dribbled the ball up the left side of the field and crossed to Jesse Ortiz, who kicked it to the right of the goalie.

The Dolphins gave up the first goal either Gulf Breeze boys' soccer team had given up all season - a span of 730 minutes - in the 64th minute when Robby Elsas scored off a Cristian Ramirez pass.

Minutes after the Raider goal another Navarre player shot a ball that appeared to me going over the net but was caught up in the heavy winds and was blown downward low enough that it bounced off the post. A Gulf Breeze defender was able to clear the ball.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Austin Santiago (left) and Richard Benson confer during a water break of a recent GBHS match. Benson had 19 saves Thursday.

The Raiders came close to tying the game two more times. In the 75th minute Gulf Breeze keeper Richard Benson was called for delay of game, and Navarre was given a free kick in the Gulf Breeze box, but a Dolphin defender deflected the free kick.

In injury time, Navarre had another free kick from just inside the Gulf Breeze box that shot to the upper right corner of the net, but Benson deflected the shot over the goal. The Dolphins were able to hold on for the win. Benson had 19 saves in the win.

Dolphins 7,West Florida 0

Gulf Breeze put seven of its 29 shots into the back of the net as they blanked the Jaguars November 13 at the old Woodham High School.

It took only nine seconds for forward Brad Parrish to put the Dolphins on the scoreboard. Parrish stole the Jaguars' opening kickoff, dribbled through their defenders, and sent a rocket through the helpless arms of the goalkeeper to set the tone.

The lead was quickly doubled when Thomas Farmer scored in the fourth minute. Christian Mauldwin and Brad Parrish were credited with assists on the second goal.

From that point on the blitz continued. Hickman and Leland Davis added two more goals late in the first half to give the Dolphins a 4-0 halftime lead.

The Dolphins would score three more in the second half to complete the rout. Nick Malloy controlled a pass from Ortiz in the six-yard box and calmly struck it by the Jaguars' goalkeeper in the 45th minute.

In the 49th minute, Malloy sent a beautifully placed corner kick into the box that would eventually find the back of the net via the head of Austin Santiago. Leland Davis concluded the scoring with a goal in the 66th minute.

West Florida rarely had scoring chances, however, the few that they created were quickly ended by great play from defenders Kyle Losoya and Mauldwin. Dolphins Benson only played in the first half, but recorded seven saves. Tyler Willets handled the goalkeeping duties in the second half, but only had the opportunity to grab two saves as a result of the excellent play of the defenders in front of him.

Dolphin JV 8,

Navarre 0 (60 minutes)

Jason Lambert scored the first goal for the Dolphins in the fourth minute.

Danny Gibble scored the next two goals for the Dolphins, the first one on a breakaway with an assist from Eric Mayfield and the second one unassisted.

Mayfield also assisted Alex Colston's goal in the 19th minute. Max Gerke and Blake Trotter both scored in the next two minutes. Trotter's goal was off an assist from Mayfield.

Trotter scored another goal in the 37th minute off a corner kick to make the score 7-0.

The Dolphins were able to win the game by mercy rule in the 60th minute when Chance Wynn scored off a Colston free kick that bounced off the goalie. Dolphin JV 8,West Florida 0

(78 minutes)

Overlade lead the onslaught with three goals, and added an assist. Danny Gibble and Mikey Green both added a pair of goals and Steven Vernali scored one of his own.

Jason Thompson also contributed to the report.