Dolphins win physical title game
GBHS rallies for 2-1 win over Navarre; rematch could take place in regional semifinals last Tuesday
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News District champs The Gulf Breeze Dolphin soccer team poses with the District 1-4A trophy after their 2-1 win over Navarre.

Leland Davis may have strong social and sport rivalries in Navarre, but he got the last laugh Friday, scoring what would be the game-winner in a 2-1 Dolphin win in the District 1-4A title game at Dolphin Stadium.

With the win, the Dolphins (17-5-5) will host Tallahassee Godby tonight in a Region 1-4A Quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. Gulf Breeze has won 10 of its 12 home playoff games dating back to 2001, including a 9-1 win over Godby in 2003, the last time the Dolphins played in a state tournament. Godby also lost to the Dolphins in 1997, their only other regional tournament appearance.

If the Raiders (16-3-4) win tonight at Panama City Bay (who's 0-7 all-time in regional play - four of those losses against GBHS), the two rivals will meet again in the regional semifinals (Tuesday after the News' deadline). It would be the fourth time the two teams have met this season, with Gulf Breeze holding a 2-0-1 edge.

"We knew the game would be physical - we fouled them as much as they fouled us," coach Bruce Savage said.

One of the harder fouls was on Chris Wilson in the second half, who slipped and fell and hit his head on the wet track. "Let's say he had some help," Savage said.

Despite the rough and tumble conditions, only four yellow cards were issued, compared to seven in a 1-1 tie a couple weeks ago in Navarre.

The Raiders almost stunned the Dolphins in the game's opening minute, but Richard Benson a diving save, the first of his 18 in the match. Benson made another diving stop in the sixth minute.

A Stuart Parks corner in the 10th minute was bobbled, then corraled by Raider keeper Zack O'Hara, while a shot in front by Brad Parrish was cleared away a minute later.

Navarre would take a 1-0 lead in the 14th when a wide open Robby Elsas fielded a long pass from Brandon Chelette and put one past Benson. The lead wouldn't last long as Jesse Ortiz, who entered the game after the Elsas goal, pushed one ahead to Parrish, who did the rest, sending a low shot past O'Hara to knot the game at 1.

The Dolphins had to survive a flurry from the Raiders in the final 20 minutes as Tommy Gibble stopped a shot in front of the box and Navarre's Cristhian Ramirez, wide open in front of the Dolphin six-yard box, sailed a shot over the crossbar in the 71st minute.

"Robby and Cristhian can cause a lot of problems," Savage said.

Dolphins 4,Washington 1 Davis scored two goals and assisted on a third as the Dolphins beat Washington in a semifinal match on Jan. 23. The loss marks the first time since 2000 that the Wildcats (7-10-4) will miss the postseason. They had been in 11 of the last 12 postseasons. Washington had only two seniors on this year's squad.

Davis' first one came in the 16th minute, when after dribbling more than 30 yards, ripped a shot that squirted out of the Wildcat keeper's hands and into the net. Tommy Gibble had the assist. Six minutes later, Davis scored again, heading in a Christian Mauldwin free kick.

Moments after a miscue in the back, Gulf Breeze made it 3-0 when Davis backheeled a pass to Parrish, who put it away in the 24th minute.

A couple of minutes after Benson was relieved by Tyler Willets, Austin Santiago headed in a corner kick from Nick Malloy in the 76th minute before the Wildcats spoiled the shutout bid with 3:24 left in the match.