Gulliver Prep cruises into 4A boys’ soccer state final after shutout of South Walton

Gulliver Prep is set for a repeat performance.

Top-seed Gulliver Prep shut out fourth-seed South Walton, 3-0, in a Class 4A boys soccer state semifinal on Thursday at Lake Myrtle Park to advance to the FHSAA state championship game.

Gulliver Prep, the defending 4A state champions, will square off against Orlando Bishop Moore in the state title game Saturday at 7 p.m. Bishop Moore (24-2) advanced by shutting out Lakeland McKeel Academy 3-0 in an earlier semifinal.

“I think this is a special group because they all care about each other, most have been at this school since they were in the second grade,” Gulliver Prep head coach Scott Davidson said.

“I thought we played well against a very organized opponent and super-coached team. I thought we did well given the circumstances.”

After a scoreless first half, Gulliver Prep took a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick by Cosme Salas at the 20:51 mark.

“It was very similar to the games we get stuck in a lot where teams try to frustrate us,” Davidson said. “It felt like we took 500 shots but didn’t score, but we knew it would happen eventually. I thought the first goal was more important than the second because once we got the first goal it became very difficult for them to continue to sit back, and I think that kind of led to the second.”

Gulliver junior Taro Ochi, who was part of last year’s state title team, gave the Raiders some breathing room when he scored the game’s second goal at the 13:19 mark.

“It was kind of a fastbreak after we won the ball,” Ochi said. “I saw my player turn around with the ball, and I saw it move though. I just ran and got the ball and touched it in, a simple finish.”

Gulliver sophomore Jacob Lombard iced the game on South Walton (9-13-2) with a penalty kick with just 3:01 remaining.

Gulliver Prep is tied with Plantation American Heritage, having won eight boys soccer state championships – second only to Clearwater Central Catholic with nine.

A win against Bishop Moore would give Gulliver both a repeat state title and thrust the Raiders into a tie with Central Catholic for state title supremacy.

“We are proud to be in a position to challenge for that and it speaks to our school,” Davidson said. “But right now we are just going to focus on playing.”

Gulliver (24-0-1) tied Downtown Doral 1-1 on Jan. 19, and Downtown Doral is also playing for a state championship when the Dolphins square off in the 2A title game against No. 1-ranked Tampa Prep Saturday at 1 p.m.