Soccer: Region Champs!

Jesuit soccer has been a model of excellence for decades. The Tigers have the most playoff victories of any Florida soccer program, have captured seven State titles, and entered this season having won six consecutive Region Championships

Make that seven straight Region titles.

On Wednesday night (Feb. 12), beneath a full moon in perfect playing conditions, the Tigers capitalized on two long throw-ins late in the first half to stake a two-goal lead en route to a 2-1 win over Osceola and a berth in the Class 5A State Tournament.

The first Jesuit score, which came right after a five-minute injury break, was the product of a long throw-in toward the Osceola goal by Nick Smith '25. The ball bounded back out near the penalty spot, where Evan Yockey '25 blasted it in the net for a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.

A couple of minutes later it was deja vu. Smith made a similar throw from the same spot into a congested Osceola box, and this time Brock Edlelman '26's redirection slipped over the line at the far post, setting off another Tiger celebration. 

From there, the defense and goalkeeper Hudsyn Pears '26 held strong, not allowing the Warriors to get one back until the waning moments.

Osceola (20-3), which has become a big soccer rival the past several years, entered the contest as one of just two teams to defeat the Tigers (19-2-1) this season, downing Jesuit 3-2 on Dec. 13 in a neutral-site Champions League semifinal.

The State Semifinal is Wednesday, February 19 at 10:00am at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale vs. unbeaten Pembroke Pines Charter (18-0-2). It is a rematch of the 2020 State Championship match won by the Tigers, 5-4.

PPC has won 17 consecutive matches, outscoring its opposition 71-4 in that stretch. Jesuit is riding a 10-match winning streak, outscoring foes 58-5 in that span.

The 5A State Final is Saturday, February 22 at 10:00am in Auburndale. The other 5A State Semifinal is between last year's 5A State Champion, Panama City Arnold, and River Ridge.