Stellar performances drive University, Gulliver boys to state semis; STA, Carroll advance
Cosme Salas wasn’t about to let it happen to the Gulliver boys’ soccer team again.
Salas remembered too vividly the bitter taste left behind last season when the Raiders were eliminated abruptly from the postseason by Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in the regional semifinals.
After a scoreless first half during which numerous scoring chances didn’t find the mark, Salas took it upon himself to change Gulliver’s fate.
Salas struck three times from varying distances including two goals in a span of 28 seconds to lift the Raiders to a 3-0 victory over Gibbons in the Region 4-4A final on Wednesday night at Tropical Park.
Gulliver (14-4-2), the top remaining seed in Class 4A, will next try to make it to the state finals for the third time in four seasons when it hosts Yulee on Saturday at a site to be determined.
“We were the better team out there not just because of skill but because of our passion,” Salas said. “They knocked us out last year which gave us hunger and we wanted revenge.”
Salas ramped up his season goals total to a team-high 12 and broke the scoreless stalemate with 25:28 left in the second half on a low shot from about 10 yards out that got past Gibbons keeper Simon Toro.
Before the Chiefs (13-5-4) could recover, Gulliver took the ball downfield and Salas quickly fired another shot that found the back of the net.
Nine minutes later, Salas ripped a shot from over 25 yards out and it angled its way past Toro to record the hat trick as his teammates yelled and jumped all over him near their bench.
“For me, Cosme has been the best player in Miami for quite some time and he demonstrated it again tonight,” Gulliver coach Scott Davidson said. “But it’s not just what he does on the field, he’s team first and he’ll be our captain next season. You could see why he’s earned it by what he did tonight.”
Davidson, who is in his second season with the Raiders as head coach, was an assistant coach on Gulliver’s original state finalist squad in 1991. Gulliver leads all Miami-Dade County boys’ soccer teams with seven state titles all-time.
“When the kids ask me, ‘What’s your favorite soccer team? It isn’t Man City or Arsenal. It’s Gulliver,” Davidson said.
To his credit, Toro played an admirable game for Gibbons, making at least five saves and even stopped a penalty kick with under 10 minutes to go. But the onslaught by Gulliver’s attack proved too much.
Winning the school’s eighth and first since 2020 is now the primary goal for the Raiders and Salas, who is determined to make it happen.
“We’ve been here before and let ourselves down, but we’re determined and we’re going to lock in on the prize and give it all we have,” Salas said.
STELLAR SEASON CONTINUES
Rafael Guerra is in his second season playing for University School since coming to Miami from his native Brazil.
Few players statewide have shown they can create scoring chances with the artistry that the Sharks’ senior forward has since his arrival.
On Wednesday night, Guerra gave another demonstration, scoring both goals to lead University School to a 2-0 victory over visiting Miami La Salle in the Region 4-3A final at AutoNation Field on its home campus.
University School (18-1-1) is vying for its third state championship and first since 2020. The Sharks will try to move a step closer to that goal on Friday night when they host Jacksonville Bolles at 7 p.m.
“It’s an inexplicable feeling. Last year they took us out in the regional semifinals,” Guerra said. “In the first half, it was hard to get chances, but in the second half as soon as I saw the ball I knew I was going to score.”
University School also achieved some payback against a cross county rival after losing in the regional semifinals to La Salle last season.
Guerra, who has an impressive 32 goals this season and is receiving offers from multiple colleges, broke the scoreless tie with 22 minutes left in the second half. Roughly, 10 minutes later, Guerra put the match out of reach with another goal.
Evan Herman had assists on both goals. Nikolas Ricardo saved a penalty kick and recorded his 14th shutout of the season.
“We had a rebuilding year last year, but this year we were prepared,” Guerra said.
▪ Region 4-6A final - St. Thomas Aquinas 2, South Broward 1: The Raiders fell behind early when South Broward’s Chris Jean-Francois scored for the Bulldogs, but rallied for a pair of goals, one just before halftime and one in the second half to pull out the victory.
Lucas DelAguila scored the equalizer five minutes before halftime before Gianluca Ripamonti came through with the game-winner just before the second half water break.
The win was a big breakthrough for coach John Walsh as St. Thomas, after winning five state titles and making a dozen trips to the final four over a 25-year span under legendary head coach Jobie Hughes, qualified for the final four for the first time since he took over 12 years ago.
“I didn’t think we played particularly pretty soccer but at this time of year, finding a way to win and moving on is all that matters,” Walsh said. “That goal by them was the first goal we’ve allowed in the playoffs so I’m proud that we were able to respond after falling behind early.”
The Raiders, who improved to 14-5-6, will enter the state final four as the No. 4 seed and travel to take on No. 1 Viera on Saturday at 7 p.m.
BILL DALEY
▪ Region 4-2A final - Miami Archbishop Carroll 2, Miami Scheck Hillel 1: The Bulldogs (12-4) avenged a loss to Hillel in last year’s regional final to clinch their first ever state semifinal appearance. Carroll will now travel to Stuart to take on Pine School on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 11:13 PM.
