Distractions created by the suspension of a teammate two weeks ago did not deter the Gulf Breeze boys soccer team from achieving their first postseason goal for 2012.

The fourth-seeded Dolphins won the District 1-3A Championship last Friday night with a 4-0 whitewashing to West Florida High despite playing without Christian Ceccarelli, who was ruled ineligible by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

The victory sent Gulf Breeze into Tuesday night’s Region 1- 3A quarterfinals at home against Panama City Arnold.

The game did not end before the News’ weekly deadline.

The temperature might have been low, but tensions were high on Jan. 27 as Gulf Breeze and West Florida’s battled it out for the District title.

Expectations were high for Gulf Breeze fans, the coaches and the players themselves at the start of the game, and the Dolphins met their expectations with a win over West Florida High School 4-0 in the championship game at Woodham Middle School.

The game started out fast paced, with the ball zooming back and forth between Gulf Breeze or West Florida players. With 19 minutes left on the clock, senior Cole Irwin scored the first goal for the Dolphins.

“We were coming out hard, just like we did against Washington,” senior Neal Lacey said.

Irwin scored twice more for the Dolphins. Sophomore Josh Ceravelo made it 4-0 with the night’s final goal, and junior Josh Goldstein had three fantastic saves as goalkeeper for the first half.

“These boys play absolutely fantastic,” said Vice Principal Danny Brothers. “They have no distractions from their goal, which is winning districts. There is also a great coaching staff behind these boys, and add in the senior leadership; it’s an all-around incredible team.”

As the second half started, the fans were roaring as the Dolphins took the field once again. The boys were yelling out words of encouragement to their fellow teammates out on the field to keep the energy from the first half still flowing.

“I’m actually not surprised,” said Coach Parrish. “These boys are better than how they’re playing tonight. Playing West Florida we have to be careful, but I am lucky to have a team so excited and hungry to go out and play.”

He added that the boys were out here playing just like they would at any practice, and that a game is actually the best form of a practice because you can always make your game better.

Senior Matt Clay replaced Goldstein as goalkeeper for the second half, and saved two attempts on the Dolphins’ goal. With twenty-one minutes left in the second half, starters Irwin and juniors Ben and Sam Hoskins were taken off the field while subs Graham Marcus (Sophomore), Weston DeMotts (Senior) and Alex Meade (Senior) took the field.

Senior Max Colbert was injured and replaced by Caesar Suarez around twenty minutes from a questionable kick that hit Colbert’s knee. Senior Max McDaniel had two assists on goal, Senior Erik Kelsh one assist, and Ceravelo one assist as well.

The game ended with the score Dolphins four — Jaguars zero, and the team rushed the field to celebrate the District Championship.

Dolphins 4,
Washington 0

Early momentum led the Dolphins to a 4-0 win over Washington in a District 1-3A Semifinals game on Jan. 25. All four goals were scored in the first-half. Both Josh Ceravolo and Max McDaniel scored two goals.