Dolphin double dip
Boys beat Stanton Prep., marking third time in school history both soccer teams qualify for state in same season
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News We did it (too) Leland Davis (back) and Josh Pagonis (right) celebrate with Brad Parrish after the Dolphins' 1-0 win over Stanton Prep Friday in Jacksonville. The Dolphins (20-5-5) took on Merritt Island (23-3) in Wednesday's 4A state semifinals in Fort Lauderdale. The winner will face either defending state champion St. Augustine Nease (23-5-2) or Naples Golden Gate (20-3-1) in tonight's 4A title game at 6 p.m.

4A State Semfinals -
Lockhart Stadium,
Fort Lauderdale
Wed., Feb. 13
St. Augustine Nease (23-5-2) vs.
Naples Golden Gate (20-3-1),
5 p.m. EST
Gulf Breeze (20-5-5) vs. Merritt
Island (23-3), 7 p.m. EST
4A State Championship
Thurs., Feb. 14
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. EST

The Dolphin soccer team had several familiar faces in the crowd during their regional final Friday in Jacksonville against Stanton Prep.

Chase Griffin, Montie Lewing, Nick Merrolli, Garrett Pataky and Adam Schrock - all of whom wore the Dolphin uniform in recent years - were rooting on the current crop of Dolphins. The quintet were a part of the last Dolphin team to play in a state tournament (2003).

That was until Friday.

The Dolphins became the second team in as many weeks - and the third in the last two years - to clinch a berth in the state tournament, beating Stanton Prep 1-0.

With the win, the Dolphins (20-5-5) advanced to Wednesday's state semifinals at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Gulf Breeze play Merritt Island (23-3), with the winner facing either defending state champion St. Augustine Nease (23-5-2) or Naples Golden Gate (20-3-1) for the 4A state championship tonight at 6 p.m. local time.

"I think with the experience of losing (in the regional final last year) seemed to help us prepare," coach Bruce Savage said. "Everything seems to be clicking in place."

Whoever wins Wednesday's semifinal, tonight's game will be their first state title game. Gulf Breeze lost in the state semifinals in 1995, 1996, 2001 and 2003, while Merritt Island lost in the 1986, 2002, 2004 and 2007 state semifinals. Merritt Island lost to Nease in the semifinals last year.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Left: Goalie Richard Benson collects his thoughts before the regional final in Jacksonville. Above: The Dolphins pose for a group photo before getting on the bus Monday afternoon.

The boys will hope to have a different result as their female counterparts, who lost to Merritt Island in last week's state semifinals (see related story).

"They were 28-0 when they lost to Nease (last year)," Savage said. "It should be quite a test."

The Dolphins needed all of 10 seconds to set the tone of the game. Brad Parrish got a shot off on the Stanton keeper, who made a sliding save. A cross from Stuart Parks was headed by Parrish to the keeper before a full minute ticked off the clock.

The midfield of Chris Wilson, Jake Ceravolo, Parks and Tommy Gibble kept the Stanton Prep defense backpedaling the entire first half with passes up to Parrish, Leland Davis and Jesse Ortiz.

Final instructions Coach Bruce Savage, along with team captains (second from left) Tommy Gibble, Kyle Losoya, Andrew Davis and Brad Parrish meet for prematch instructions before the start of their match Friday in Jacksonville. Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News

The defense of Kyle Losoya, Christian Mauldwin, Daniel Shull and Josh Pagonis were equally as quick, shutting down any runs before the Blue Devils could get a shot on Richard Benson.

Gulf Breeze scored what would be the game's lone goal in the 14th minute, when Parrish put a Gibble cross in the back of the net.

The attacks didn't stop there as a cross from Parrish to Gibble two minutes later almost made it 2-0.

The Blue Devils had two chances in the box in the final two minutes, but Benson made one of his 11 saves on the first, while the second was a cross that wasn't followed up on. Atotal of 15 position players saw time on the pitch for Gulf Breeze in the first half, which ended 1-0.

The Blue Devils turned up the intensity early in the second half, but Gulf Breeze was up to the challenge. In the first five minutes, Benson tipped a shot over the crossbar, while Losoya stepped in to break up a Blue Devil run.

In the 52nd minute, Benson deflected a shot from point blank range, resulting in a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, Pagonis knocked two balls off the goal line.

Dolphins 2, Navarre 1

For the second time in less than two weeks - and for the third time this season - Gulf Breeze eked out a one goal win over their archrivals in a Region 1-4A semifinal match Feb. 5.

Parks, who would later get the game-winning assist, almost had the game's first goal in the eighth minute, hitting the left post.

A free kick after a Raider foul led to the game's first goal. Mauldwin's long kick went to Parrish, who cross it to a leaping Leland Davis, whose header went over the hands of Zach O'Hara and under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Benson made one of his 13 saves in the 22nd minute by punching a ball out of the sixyard box, but the Raiders would tie it three minutes later on a goal by Robbie Elsas.

A long run and shot from Parks in the 35th minute nearly ended up as an own goal.

Three minutes later, the Dolphins took the lead for good. Parks headed a ball to Ceravolo, who pushed a slow roller past a diving O'Hara.

Gulf Breeze's best scoring chance in the second half came in the 68th minute, when Jeff Lanza had the ball in the sixyard box with O'Hara lying on the ground, but Lanza couldn't get a good foot on the ball.