Late Goal Sinks Stanton In Regional Quarterfinals
BY FABRIZIO GOWDY | FEB. 16, 2021 | SPORTS
In spite of a two-goal comeback, the Stanton Blue Devils girls soccer team’s season came to an end Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to the Mosley High School Dolphins in the Region 5A Quarterfinals at Stanton College Preparatory School .
The Dolphins hail from Lynn Haven, Fla., a coastal town just north of Panama City, Fla. On Feb. 9, Mosley took the runner-up spot in District 1, setting up a four-hour trip east to Jacksonville, Fla. for a rematch of last year’s regional semifinals; Stanton won last year's game 3-1 but lost nine starting seniors in the offseason. The Blue Devils earned the right to play at home after sweeping through their district, defeating Orange Park High School 8-0 and Middleburg High School 6-0.
Mosley had an advantage in scoring opportunities early as a shaky Stanton team was unable to establish an effective passing game. In the 5th minute, that advantage culminated in a botched clear ending in a Stanton own goal.
Things got worse for the Blue Devils in the 16th minute. Senior Mosley captain Cailyn Lake headed in a corner, giving the Dolphins an early 2-0 lead. However, just when it felt like Stanton was outmatched and heading for a blowout loss, the Blue Devils found an answer.
Junior defensive back Tatum Register played the ball into the box, where freshman forward Courtney Brown was waiting. Brown, one of Stanton's most dangerous weapons on offense this season, got off a low shot that was just out of reach for junior Mosley keeper Ella Laymon.
Brown's goal in the 17th minute breathed new life into the Stanton side just before the water break. Senior keeper Kaiydn Gonzales came up with several diving saves and Register had a number of slide tackles, clears, and through balls. The Blue Devils played the Dolphins evenly to the half, holding the Mosley offense scoreless for the final 24 minutes.
Stanton came out of the half with all the momentum, putting Mosley on the defensive with a tantalizing series of near-misses inside the box. The Blue Devils finally broke through in the 55th minute. Aided by a Courtney Brown assist, freshman forward Kimberly Norton scored from the left side of the box, completing the two-goal comeback and bringing the home crowd to its feet.
Just moments after the equalizing goal, Norton nearly gave Stanton the lead. Her shot on a Stanton counterattack got past Mosley's keeper, but she was ruled offside, drawing boos and jeers from the home crowd.
Mosley had its own share of near-misses; Stanton collectively held its breath in the 73rd minute as keeper Kaidyn Gonzales bobbled and dropped a shot in the box. In the ensuing scramble near the left post, a Mosley player was injured, but the Dolphins were unable to score. Overtime seemed inevitable as the clock wound below five minutes.
However, disaster struck for the Blue Devils in the 77th minute. A Mosley free kick sent the ball into the box, where freshman Zamiyah Hill put it in the back of the net for the late go-ahead goal.
With little more than three minutes to save their season, the Blue Devils made one final push to score an improbable last-minute goal. Twice they managed to get in the box, but those two opportunities and a corner ended unsuccessfully as the final whistle marked the end of Stanton’s season.
Mosley (10-3-1) advances to the Regional Semis, where it faces the winner of Wednesday’s Middleburg-Gulf Breeze game; Gulf Breeze is heavily favored to win that match. Stanton (6-7-3) ends its season one game below .500, falling short of last year's run to the Regional Finals. While Tuesday was not the result they had hoped for, the Blue Devils can take comfort in the fact that many of their best players will return next season, including a trio of freshmen forwards.