Soccer: Region Champions!

The winningest soccer program in Florida prep history chalked up another milestone on Wednesday (Feb. 13). 

Jesuit High School captured the Region Championship with an emphatic 8-0 win over Eau Gallie at Corral Memorial Stadium. The Tigers, 6-time State Champions, advanced to play in the State Semifinal on Saturday at Plantation American Heritage, the defending State Champion. (Click here for a Tampa Bay Times story about the game.)

Jesuit soccer's 78 playoff victories (wins in Region and State competition) are the most ever in Florida. It is Jesuit's 18th appearance in the State Semifinal in the past 33 seasons. 

Playoff win No. 78 was the result of a dominant performance from start to finish. Lucas Gobea' 20 opened the scoring less than a minute into the game with his team-high 19th goal of the season. Zach Board '20 tallied back-to-back scores (his 14th and 15th) just a few minutes later as the Tigers seized control. 

Before the half had ended Jesuit (22-2) stuck two more times, with both goals coming on Trevor Stanley '19 (team-high 23 assists) corner kicks redirected into the net by the head of defender Andrew Motzer '19. In the second half, Carter Campbell '19, Carson Bien '20, and Alex Medina '20 tacked on scores. The defense and goalkeeper Thomas Knipe '19 recorded Jesuit's 16th shutout of the season.

The Tigers had been stymied the past two seasons in the Region Final, losing on penalty kicks both years to Merritt Island. The seniors on this year's team were freshmen the last time Jesuit advanced to the State Semifinal, in 2016. The Tigers have advanced at least to the Region Final in all six seasons under head coach Eric Sims '95.

American Heritage, the 2018 Class 3A State Champion, won its Region Final over Cape Coral Mariner on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie through overtime.

For photos from Jesuit's win over Eau Gallie in the Region Final, go to the Jesuit High School of Tampa Facebook page and/or the Jesuit Tampa Instagram page.