Champs, Again

Locked in a tense 0-0 deadlock at halftime Friday (Jan. 23) of the District Final vs. Bradenton Southeast, the Jesuit soccer team didn’t let the drama last much longer.

In the opening moments of the second half, defender Noah Kurtz ’18 scored off a corner kick, and a few minutes later Connar Lufkin ’16 broke free in the box and booted home a long cross from Justin Raab ’17, and suddenly the Tigers were cruising to a 3-0 victory.

Kurt Sierra ’15 completed the scoring with a goal from close range, while Gabe Turner ’15 led a defense that stifled the Southeast (15-5) attack to help goalkeeper Colin Malafronte ’15 earn the team’s 13th shutout of 2014-15.

Jesuit improved to 20-2-2 on the season while capturing the program’s 29th District title in the past 31 seasons, and its second in two seasons under head coach Eric Sims ’95. It’s also the fifth District title for Jesuit athletics this school year.

The Tigers will host a Region Quarterfinal on Thursday at 7:00pm. Click here for a Tampa Bay Times story about Friday's match.

Soccer's District title was half of a thrilling night of sports at Jesuit, as inside the Tiger Palace the basketball team was earning a 74-72 double overtime win over Sarasota Cardinal Mooney on Senior Night.

Cardinal Mooney was 16-1 entering the game and had defeated Jesuit 58-53 in December in Sarasota. The Tigers improved to 18-5.