Ransom Everglades boys soccer left frustrated after state final loss to Tampa Prep

Hoping to capture some of the same magic that carried them to the program’s only state title six years ago, the Ransom Everglades boys soccer team couldn’t quite finish on Thursday afternoon.

Ranked No. 3 in the nation by Max Preps, the Raiders were tasked with taking on the No. 1 team, undefeated and untied Tampa Prep. But despite enjoying more quality scoring chances than their opponent most of the game, Ransom dropped a 2-0 decision in the Class 3A state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium.

Tampa Prep., which captured the program’s seventh state title and first since 2013, finished the season a perfect 21-0-0 and can lay claim to a Max Preps national championship.

“I thought we did everything right other than win,” Ransom coach Dave Villano said. “The game plan was right, the execution was right, we made just a couple of minor mistakes that good teams capitalize on but I can’t be prouder of our guys for having a vision for how they wanted to play, going out there and executing and sometimes the ball just doesn’t go where you want it to go.”

Villano watched his players create numerous scoring chances only to be turned away by not only great saves by goalkeeper J.B. Montague, but Terrapin defenders as well.

Prep took a 1-0 lead just before the first half water break when Christian Sosa, trying to prevent Asher Jones from turning the corner near the baseline and head towards the net, fouled him. Ransom keeper Jasper Broad guessed right on the penalty kick but Santiago Castañeda was still able to fire the ball just past his outstretched arms just inside the left post.

The Raiders (18-2-3), who had four quality chances turned away in the first half on nice saves by Montague and defender Jaimie McFarland, continued to be frustrated in the second half.

The biggest moment came with 28 minutes left in regulation when it appeared they were finally going to knock one in and tie the game.

Prep defender Grant Bennati made an ill-advised pass in front of his own net that Ransom’s Nicholas Sosa intercepted. When he easily beat Montague one-on-one, the net was wide open and he fired.

Then, out of nowhere, Bennati came diving across and somehow got a piece of the ball with his hip deflecting it away.

“It was frustrating the whole game because we were all over them so we figured it was just matter of time before we got the game tied,” Nicholas Sosa said. “Then I had that chance, easily beat the keeper and I’m thinking it’s 1-1. Then their player comes out of nowhere and gets a piece of it so give him props for that. I just feel like if we score there and tie it, the game goes in an entirely different direction. I think we would’ve won it. We worked so hard to get here and it just hurts so much to lose because we felt like we dominated the whole game.”

The Terrapins pretty much ended the issue with 12 minutes left when Jones beat Sosa down the right hand side to a loose ball. Even though Broad got a hand on his shot to make the initial save, Jones managed to chase down the rebound and knock it in for the insurance goal.