STANTON FIGHTS FLEMING ISLAND TO A DRAW, COMPLETES UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON
FABRIZIO GOWDY | JAN. 8, 2021 | SPORTS
Stanton College Preparatory School’s varsity boys team ended regular season play unbeaten Friday with a 0-0 Senior Night draw against the Fleming Island High School Eagles.
Despite a wind chill pushing the game time temperature into the upper 40s, a sizable student section turned out to support Stanton's 10 seniors in their final scheduled home game.
Neither side managed to create many opportunities early in the first half. The tight Blue Devil defense, which had yet to allow a goal at home this season coming in, kept keeper Sebastian Brunner's work limited.
Unlike Fleming Island, Stanton got the ball inside the six-yard box several times in the first half, but the back of the net remained elusive. A shot by senior striker Miles Andre sailed narrowly over the crossbar in the 17th minute. In the 32nd minute, sophomore mid Dimani Mathlin nearly headed in a ball from senior forward Brandon Diaz, but the half was kept scoreless with a save by a sprawled out Frank Rooney, the Eagles' senior keeper.
Needing a goal after a scoreless first half, Stanton put pressure on the Fleming Island defense from the opening kick of the second half. The Blue Devils began to dominate ball possession, which had already favored them in the first half.
Stanton won several corners and created more quality scoring opportunities than the Eagles, but Fleming Island’s Frank Rooney came up with a save each time, making a strong case for game MVP.
“That goalkeeper was a handful,” said Stanton head coach Stone. “We had to beat him, and we didn’t do that.”
The game was still scoreless at the 2nd half water break, and remained scoreless as the clock ticked down into the single digits. With under two minutes left, the Blue Devils had a final series of scoring opportunities.
It began with a free kick from a yard outside the box by junior Joe Alberto, whose low shot was blocked by a wall of Eagle defenders. However, Fleming Island was unable to clear the ball, which led to a desperate barrage of unsuccessful Stanton shots as the clock ran out. In one last dramatic effort, senior back Ryan Dreibelbis took a shot from inside the box that appeared to be heading for a game winning goal with twenty seconds remaining. Rooney was out of place as the ball sailed towards the left end of the net, but Fleming Island junior Logan Dailey made an incredible save, heading the shot away at the last possible moment. Dailey’s play averted a heartbreaking loss for the Eagles and ensured the game ended 0-0.
“They say defense wins championships, and it does, but you also have to be able to score,” said Coach Stone. “We’ve had some trouble doing that.”
At 7-0-4, Stanton moves on to the Gateway Conference Tournament, which for Stanton begins at home Tuesday against Sandalwood. The Blue Devils are hoping to replicate last season's deep postseason run, which took them to the state semifinals. The Eagles are 5-5-2 and play at Palatka High School Monday, the next match in a difficult schedule that has included nationally ranked teams like Creekside, Mandarin, and Fletcher high schools.