Late Alesch Goal Lifts Stanton Over Gulf Breeze In Quarterfinals
BY FABRIZIO GOWDY | FEB. 17, 2021 | SPORTS
In the Region 5A Quarterfinals Wednesday, Stanton College Prep defeated the Gulf Breeze High School Dolphins 1-0.
The Dolphins made the 359-mile trip east from Gulf Breeze, Fla., a Santa Rosa County suburb of Pensacola in; Gulf Breeze is so far west in the Florida Panhandle that it is located in the Central Time Zone.
Gulf Breeze was forced to make the five-hour drive after being upset by Fort Walton Beach High School in the exciting Region 5A District 1 finals on Feb. 10. The Dolphins, who had defeated Fort Walton twice during the regular season, entered the finals undefeated, boasting a 17-0 record, 11 shutouts, and a goal differential of plus 65. However, Fort Walton outlasted Gulf Breeze 7-6 in penalty kicks after ending regulation and extra time tied 2-2.
As a result, Fort Walton got to play a subpar 9-9 Orange Park High School team at home Wednesday, while Gulf Breeze, facing elimination, was forced to travel to Stanton for a second consecutive year; Stanton defeated Gulf Breeze in overtime last year.
Both defenses showed up in the first half. Two veteran sets of defensive backs battled it out, making for a gritty, physical opening forty minutes. Stanton’s defense contained junior forward Anthony Ciccerelo, the Dolphins’ top goal-scorer.
Much to the Blue Devils' frustration, Stanton was given an unusually high number of fouls. Stanton's coaches and fans grew increasingly upset with officials, with tempers flaring at the end of the half. Gulf Breeze committed a foul with 10 seconds on the clock, but when time expired before the free kick could be set up, the refs let the Dolphins run off the field and ended the half.
The decision was made in compliance with FHSAA rules, but nonetheless prompted angry shouting and heckling from the Stanton bleachers, leading the officials to threaten multiple spectators with ejection.
In contrast to the evenly matched, scoreless first half, the early minutes of the second belonged to the Blue Devils. Stanton had several good scoring opportunities, especially on set plays, making senior Gulf Breeze keeper J.T. Nash work overtime.
However, the water break came and went and the game remained scoreless. The final 20 minutes dragged on as overtime grew increasingly likely.
In the 75th minute, senior striker Miles Andre took a crucial late corner. His cross bounced around the box for a nerve wracking few seconds before senior back Ethan Alesch punched it in for the game-winning goal.
Alesch's goal was a gut-wrenching development for the Dolphins, who now had just five minutes left to come up with a goal. Junior Gulf Breeze forward Luke Jacobi very nearly did just that in the 79th minute with a shot from the left side of the box. However, his shot sailed across the face of the goal before narrowly missing the top right corner, dashing the Dolphins’ hopes.
Gulf Breeze (17-2) ends its season with a crushing pair of back-to-back losses. Stanton (11-5-1) gets yet another home shutout and keeps its season alive. The Blue Devils will play Fort Walton Beach at home Saturday for a chance to go to the Regional Finals.