SOCCER ROUNDUP
4 Broward teams eye shot at state soccer title
Deerfield Beach, Monarch, Cardinal Gibbons and Pine Crest could end up at among the state final four.
BY ADAM H. BEASLEY
abeasley@MiamiHerald.com
After two tumultuous rounds of regional action, this is what we're left with in Broward County: The Underdogs, The Road Warriors, The Survivors and The Giant Killers.
Or, if you'd like their formal names: Deerfield Beach, Monarch, Cardinal Gibbons and Pine Crest.
By late Friday night, all four could have punched tickets to Tampa.
Or all four could be done, leaving Broward locked out of the state final four, despite boasting a deep pool of talented teams.
Few would have thought when the tournament began that University School, North Broward Prep and Cypress Bay would be gone, and two district runners-up -- Monarch and Pine Crest -- would still be alive.
Pine Crest has single-handedly cleared the field in 3A, downing University and North Broward, both considered among the best South Florida teams at any level.
Monarch hasn't played a game in Broward County this month.
Even fewer would think that Cardinal Gibbons could have survived not one but two 1-0 decisions.
And virtually no one is picking Deerfield to beat Boca Raton, one of the best teams in the nation. ''It puts us on the map,'' said Deerfield coach Frantz Edouard.
Region 3-6A: Deerfield Beach (19-9-1) vs. Boca Raton (23-1-1) at Coral Springs High School. The Eagles, champions of District 11, won the right to face District 10-champion Boca Raton by knocking off Douglas in the semis.
Region 4-5A: Monarch (17-5-2) vs. Cape Coral (14-7-4). A loss to West Boca in the District 14 title match ensured that the Knights would stay on the road if they wanted to get to Tampa.
Region 4-4A: Merritt Island (15-2-4) vs. Cardinal Gibbons (18-5-4). The Chiefs have the only true home game of the four Broward squads left standing.
Region 4-3A: Pine Crest (18-4-3) vs. Gulliver Prep (15-3-2). Neither team won its district, but both reached the regional finals with a pair of close victories.
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