Miami’s Belen Jesuit storms into state soccer championship game for first time
Making their first state final four appearance in five years and second ever, if the Belen Jesuit boys’ soccer team had a case of nerves before their Class 4A state semifinal matchup with Auburndale Thursday night, it sure didn’t show.
Not even close.
The Wolverines, ranked eighth in the nation by USA Today and bringing an unbeaten record into the game, showed exactly why as they pumped four goals into the back of the net in the game’s first 25 minutes and put it on cruise control after that, defeating the outmanned and outgunned Bloodhounds by a 4-0 final at Melbourne High School.
For the first time in the history of the program, Belen will play in a state title game (they lost to Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 2-0 in a 2011 state semi) when they square off against Naples Gulf Coast, which topped Jacksonville Atlantic Coast 4-2 in an earlier semifinal, in the 4A state title game Friday at 9:05 p.m.
“The kids came in here tonight prepared and ready to go,” Belen coach Tanger Mendonca said.
“It was a complete game from start to finish. The boys were relaxed and ready to go and now everyone is excited about the opportunity in front of us tomorrow (Friday) night. One game, one dream for history.”
Belen will also be trying to make history for Miami-Dade County as well.
The Wolverines (26-0-2) are hoping that good fortune for Miami-Dade County teams continues as North Miami Beach Scheck Hillel and Ransom-Everglades became first-time state champions earlier in the week.
Should Belen win, it would mark the first time in state history that three boys soccer programs from Dade won a state title in the same year.
“We came out and wanted to really press them hard early and try and create some chances and obviously it worked out,” Belen senior captain Francisco De la Camara said.
“Nobody on this team had been to state before so getting off to a quick start was important. We got up 2-0 and just really were able to dictate from there.”
They got up 2-0 because de la Camara, who came into the game with 54 goals on the season, (second-best in county history) quickly got to 56 as he scored twice, once in the game’s 11th minute off an assist from Anthony Castro and eight minutes later on an unassisted goal.
De la Camara is now five short of the county record of 61 set by Ransom Everglades’ Nikko Hurtado four years ago.
Four minutes after that, it was 3-0 when Ignacio Sapetnitzky beat the Auburndale (22-5-1) defense down the right side and knocked one home. Less than two minutes later, the Belen onslaught on Bloodhounds keeper Andrew Starling continued when Tavish Rice beat him one-on-one after a defensive turnover.
Content with the big lead, the Wolverines took their foot off the pedal and played conservative, station-to-station passing soccer in the second half and waited for the clock to hit zero and head back to their hotel.
“I guess we already made history tonight because no Belen team has ever played for a state title before but we’re obviously not finished yet and want to get one more tomorrow (Friday) night,” said De la Camara. “The record? I’m not worried about that in the least. If I get it, I get it but a state championship is way more important.”
BASEBALL
▪ Coral Park 8, Champagnat 4
WP: Anthony Vazquez (1-0). Top performers: Brandon Gomiz 2-3, 2 RS, RBI; Eric Estevez 3-4, RS; Paul Castillo 2-4, 2 RBI, HR. CP 1-0.
▪ Doral 7, Cypress Bay 5
WP: Jorge Perez (1-0). Top performers: Yaseil Fapri 2B, 3 RBI; Lency Delgado 2B, 3 RBI; Chris Lirino RS. Dor 1-2.
Curley 6, Sheridan Hills 2
WP: David Diaz (1-0). Top performers: Diaz 7 IP, 13 K; Jose Pina 3 H; Jordi Herrera 2 RBI; Richardson Paul 2 RBI.
▪ Archbishop Carroll 16, Homestead 5
WP: Lisandro Echemendia (1-0). Top performers: Rey Gonze 3-3, 3 RS; Christian Gonzalez 3-3, 3 RBI; Sal Lorenzo 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 RS.
▪ Florida Christian 3, Terra 1
WP: Danny San Pedro. Top performers: Alex Cerda 2-3; Cristian Martin 1-3; Ruben Someillan 1-3; Brandon Chinea 1-3. WC 1-0.
▪ South Dade 3, Keys Gate 0
WP: Kendrick Pico (1-0). Top performers: Ricardo Sobalvarro 2-3, RBI; Pico 6 IP, 2 H, 9 K. SD 2-0, KG 0-2.
▪ Hialeah 5, Reagan 4
WP: Damian Gomez (1-0); LP: Felix Reyes (0-1). Top performers: Adrian Negrin 2-2, 3B, 2 RBI; Jorge Bellido de Luna 2-3, RS; Andres Rodriguez 5 IP, 8K. Hia 1-1.
▪ Miami Christian 9, Mater Lakes 8
WP: Chris Otero. Top performers: Orlando Ribalta 1-2 RBI; Luis Rodriguez 3 RBI; Jordan Gonzalez 2-3, 2 RBI; Sebi Dayoub 2-3.
▪ Killian 4, Royal Palm Beach 1
WP: Ryan Floyd (1-0). Top performers: Floyd 5 IP, 7 K; Ruben Trillo 2-2, RS; Eddie Arteaga RBI; Gabriel Garcia 1-3, 2B. Kil 2-1.
SOFTBALL
▪ Sunset 13, South Miami 7
WP: Harley Tekerman (2-0). Top performers: Sabrina Perez 5-5, 3 RS; Alex Poit 4-5, 2 RS; Tekerman 2-5, 2 RS. Sun 2-1, SM 2-1.
▪ Miami Springs 17, Northwestern 0
WP: Mallory Mitnick (2-0). Top performers: Mitnick 1 H, 4 K; Emily Santos 2 2B, 4 RBI; Riley Jimenez 3-3, RBI; Nicole Borroto 2 RS; Jasmin Echeveria RBI.
▪ Coral Reef 7, Southridge 4
WP: Rebecca Sutton (2-1). Top performers: Samantha Lorenzo 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Jenice Casanas 2-3, 2 RS; Michelle Ryan RBI. CR 2-1.
▪ Lourdes 15, Varela 0
Top performers: Gabby Gonzalez 3 RS, 3 RBI; Nicole Gonzalez 3 RS, 3 RBI; Natasha Gonzalez 2 RS, 4 RBI. Lour 2-3.
▪ Ferguson 16, Braddock 5
Top performers: Gaby Sanchez HR, 2 RBI; Samantha Oliva 4 RBI; Kaesha Wolley HR; Kaina Lisibach 3-4.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 18, Somerset 14
WP: Chloe Pepitone (2-0). Top performers: Chloe Pepitone and Jenna Graves each 4-4, HR.
▪ Westminster Christian 15, Palmer Trinity 0
WP: Victoria Perez (2-0). Top performers: Megan Diaz 4 RBI; Jackie Feely 2 RBI; Victoria Perez HR, 2 RBI. WC 3-1.
▪ Reagan 24, Coral Park 20
Top performers: Jade Santos 2-4; Camila Acevedo 3-4, HR; Ayleen Pardo 2-4.
▪ Terra 18, Westland Hialeah 1
WP: Tayler Sanchez. Top performers: Oceana Camejo HR, 3 RS; Veronica Sanchez 2-3, HR, 5 RBI; Aaliyah Jolly 3 RS.
▪ Palmetto 15, Killian 0
WP: Morgan Bowers (1-0). Top performers: Carly Herskowitz 2 RS; Bowers 3 RBI. Pal 4-0.
▪ Goleman 15, Mourning 0
WP: Natalie Costero (3-0). Top performers: Costero 8 K, 3-3, 5 RBI; Michi Oliva 3-3, 3 RBI, HR. Gol 3-0.
BOYS’ TENNIS
▪ Miami Country Day 5, International Studies 2: 2: Alex Cohan 8-4; 3: Richie Lovelace 8-4; 4: Harrison Breslow 8-0.
▪ Miami Beach 6, Columbus 1: 1: Nicolas Barone 8-5; 2: Omar Zarif 8-2; 3: Luca McLeod 8-0; 4: Omar Azzaoui 9-7; 5: Jonathan Hirschenson 8-4. MB 2-1.
▪ MAST 6, Coral Shores 1: 1: Richie Torres 8-0; 2: Patrick Wilson 8-4; 3: Alejandro Garcia 8-5; 4: Gines Vivancos 8-0; 5: Paul Wilson 8-3.
▪ Coral Reef 7, South Dade 0: 1: Thomas Barraque 8-0; 2: Lucas Nickolich 8-1; 3: Simon Galvis 8-0; 4: Hugo Rodriguez 8-0; 5: Stefan Araujo 8-0. CR 2-1.
▪ Ferguson 6, MAST 1: 1: Jose Ortega 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; 2: Jose Disotuar 8-0; 3: Justin Ossa 8-4; 4: Gabriel Sole 8-6; 5: Jorge Melian 8-0.
▪ Westminster Christian 6, SLAM 1: 1: Nicholas Salazar 8-0; 2: Stefano Bambrilla 8-4; 3: Augustuin Scopazzo 8-3; 4: Eduardo Jimenez 8-1.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
▪ MAST 7, Coral Shores 0: 1: Mencia Sanchez 8-0; 2: Anabella Camacaro 8-0; 3: Isabella Camacaro 8-1; 4: Martina Ibrichimova 8-1.
▪ Coral Reef 7, South Dade 0: 1: Laura Navia 8-1; 2: Claudia Jacobo 8-0; 3: Thais Barraque 8-0; 4: Ana Arrocha 8-0.
▪ Westminster Christian 7, SLAM 0: 1: Cassandra Restrepo 8-6; 2: Sara Fernandez 8-0; 3: Taylor Huffman 8-0; 4: Valentina Riveros 8-0; 5: Anastasia Alvarez 8-0.
▪ Ferguson 4, MAST 3: 1: Annie Carrera 8-0; 2: Emily Ortega 8-2; 3: Sarah Vanroy 8-0; 4: Mencia Sanchez 8-1; 5: Lucia Ors 8-3; 1: S.Vanroy/A.Carrera 4-0; 2: P.Portabella/S.Gonzalez 4-2.
BOYS’ WATER POLO
▪ Hialeah 17, Coral Gables 16: David Lemus 13 goals, 6 assists; Nicolas Restrepo (CG) 7 goals.
▪ Miami High 18, Cutler Bay 1: Isaac Rodriguez 6 goals.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
▪ Hialeah 11, Coral Gables 8: Ashley Luys 8 goals, 5 assists; Kiani Cruzada and Laura Cepro, goal each; Alexandra Hollian (CG) 3 goals.
▪ Miami High 10, Cutler Bay 8: Kimberly Gonzalez 8 goals; Melissa Quiroz two goals.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
▪ Gulliver 20, Palmetto 1: Dominic Benitez, Bryce Zomerfield and Andrew Kardonski goal each. Gul 2-0.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 17, Western 3: Cole O’Hallaron 5 goals; James Foster 4 goals; Whitman Hengtgen, Reilly Diamond 3 goals each.
This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 10:12 PM with the headline "Miami’s Belen Jesuit storms into state soccer championship game for first time."