FABRIZIO GOWDY | JAN. 15, 2021 | SPORTS

Just three days after surging to the top of the Florida Times-Union’s regional power rankings, the Stanton College Preparatory School varsity soccer team fell 2-1 to the Mandarin High School Mustangs in the Gateway Conference Final at Losco Regional Park Friday.

The Blue Devils earned a spot in the finals after defeating Sandalwood High School 4-0 in the quarterfinals Tuesday and Englewood High School 1-0 in the semifinals Wednesday; the Mustangs’ route to the finals included wins over Wolfson High School and Fletcher High School.

Stanton and Mandarin previously met on Dec. 17 at Mandarin, where the Blue Devils won 2-1. Friday’s rematch at Losco Park took place less than two miles from the site of the first match.

This year's final was also a rematch of the 2020 Gateway Final, in which Stanton avenged a regular season loss to Mandarin by defeating the Mustangs 1-0.

In Friday’s game, Mandarin struck early in the first minute using a set play on the opening kick to set up a shot from the top of the box. Sophomore forward Antonio Manicotti's shot found the top left corner of the net, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game.

Mandarin's aggressive offense tested Stanton, which boasts one of the top defenses in the state. The Mustangs seemed to have the Blue Devils on the run early, but Stanton gradually got a handle and put Mandarin on the defensive with a series of corners and free kicks.

However, just as Stanton seemed on the verge of trying the game, Mandarin dealt the Blue Devils a devastating blow. In the 29th minute, freshman back Sergey Rakhimimov played a ball into the box. Senior forward Santiago Hernandez headed the ball towards the bottom left a corner of the net, where it hit the post before sneaking in for a goal. The half ended 2-0.

With 40 minutes left to come up with two goals, the Blue Devil caught a break early in the second when veteran Mandarin keeper Sean McNamee left the game complaining of leg pain after a goal kick. McNamee, arguably the Anchor of Mandarin's superb defense, was replaced by junior Emanuel Gonzales, a field player.

Gonzales exceeded expectations by saving a Stanton penalty in the 60th minute, but senior mid Zach Wagner finally broke through a minute later. On the corner resulting from the saved penalty, Wagner punched in a goal, bringing the score to 2-1.

Stanton very nearly found the equalizing goal on a cross just before the water break, prompting a limping McNamee to return for the final 20 minutes. With his return, the Mustangs shifted into defensive mode, looking to hang on to their lead and the Gateway title.

On the opposite end of the field, Stanton junior keeper Sebastian Brunner was putting up an impressive second half performance. Brunner made several key saves at point-blank range, keeping Stanton in the game until the end.

The heated final few minutes saw several opportunities inside the six-yard box for Stanton, including one in the game's final minute. Each time the Blue Devils seemed to have a goal in their grasp, Mandarin managed to snatch it away. Unable to tie the game by the final whistle, Stanton suffered its first defeat of the season. Mandarin vindicated its 2-1 loss in December by handing Stanton a 2-1 loss of its own.

The Blue Devils were without starting sophomore center mid Dimani Mathlin, their only underclassman to start a game this season. Mathlin was hospitalized after sustaining a serious neck injury against Englewood Wednesday.

Stanton (8-1-4) suffers its first loss after ending the regular season undefeated for the first time in Coach Stone’s three decades-long tenure. Mandarin (11-2-1) avoids three straight losses against Stanton and is 8-2-1 in the rivalry since 2015.

Stanton Suffers First Loss In Dramatic Gateway Final