Stanton Punches Ticket To States With Dominant Win Over Seabreeze

BY FABRIZIO GOWDY | FEB. 23, 2021 | SPORTS

Powered by a strong first half, the Stanton College Preparatory School boys soccer team is heading to states for a second consecutive year after defeating the Seabreeze High School Sandcrabs 3-0 in the 5A Regional Finals in Ormond Beach, Fla. Wednesday. 

The first half went just about as well as Stanton could possibly hope for against 14-2-2 Seabreeze. The Blue Devils capitalized on their opportunities and jumped out to a commanding 3-0 halftime lead. 

Senior defensive back Ethan Alesch kicked off the scoring in the 5th minute with a chaotic goal in the box. The ball bounced around for a moment before Alesch finally managed to punch it in for Stanton. Junior mid Joe Alberto added another goal five minutes later, his shot finding the upper right corner in the 10th minute. 

Stanton's third goal of the half came courtesy of senior forward Jake Faltemeir's head. Faltemeir headed in a deflected corner from fellow senior forward Miles Andre in the 35th minute, putting the Sandcrabs in a seemingly insurmountable hole to start the second half.

The Blue Devils didn't ease up in the second half, nearly adding another goal in the 55th minute. A shot by Jake Faltemeir hit the underside of the crossbar and came down just outside of the goal line.

However, it was Seabreeze, not Stanton, who was desperately in need of goals. The Sandcrabs were unable to win the battle for possession and control the tempo of the game. Each of Seabreeze's scoring opportunities was snuffed out by junior Stanton keeper Sebastian Brunner and his veteran line of defensive backs; critically, back in the starting lineup for the Blue Devils was senior defensive back Ryan Dreibelbis, who missed Saturday's semifinal game against Fort Walton Beach High School.

Unable to muster any sort of comeback, Seabreeze’s postseason ended one game short of the State Semifinals. Seabreeze took the runner-up spot in Region 5A District 4, losing 1-0 to Gainesville High School on Feb. 9. The Sandcrabs proceeded to beat Ponte Vedra High School 2-0 in the quarterfinals and take their revenge on Gainesville in the semis, defeating the Hurricanes 1-0 on Feb. 20 and earning a spot in the finals against Stanton. 

For their part, the Blue Devils found themselves in the finals after cruising to first place in District 2, then defeating Gulf Breeze High School 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and finally notching a 2-1 win over Fort Walton Beach High School in the semis. The Blue Devils now head to Tampa, Fla. for the 5A State Semifinals, where they will play on Feb. 26 against the winner of Land O’ Lakes High School and Tampa Jesuit High School.