Three-minute flurry helps Gulliver top Ransom
With the smallest bit of momentum, Gulliver’s boys’ soccer team can put away the outcome of a match.
Ransom Everglades found that out Thursday afternoon.
In a three-minute flurry of goals led by senior forward Andy Alvarez’s goal and two of his three assists, Gulliver routed rival Ransom 6-1 in a Region 4-2A quarterfinal at its home field.
The Raiders (14-2), the reigning Class 2A state champions, advanced to play either Miami Edison or Miami Westminster Christian in the regional semifinals Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Gulliver.
Adriano Castro scored two goals, giving him 21 for the season, and Caesar Roman, Gabriel Vicente and Paul Bouaziz all scored one as Gulliver scored three goals in a three-minute span early in the second half.
The Raiders are vying for their third consecutive berth in the state finals, and what would be a second consecutive state title and sixth overall.
“When we get into a rhythm, we have a few guys up top that are really hard to stop,’’ Gulliver coach Matias Asorey said. “[Alvarez] has been big time for us all year either by scoring goals or assisting on them, and we’ll need that from him as we go forward.’’
Region 4-5A quarterfinal — Aquinas 3, Krop 2 (3-1 PKs): As is usually the case when a game goes to penalty kicks, one of the two goalkeepers is likely to be a hero and that turned out to be St. Thomas Aquinas’ keeper Trevor Walsh.
Having given up the tying goal with 30 seconds left in regulation when he came out of the net and misjudged a deep throw-in, Walsh came though in a big way at Traz Powell Stadium when he made a pair of spectacular saves to pave the way for Aquinas’ victory over Krop (11-6-4).
Aquinas (13-8-6) moves on for a much-anticipated rematch with district rival Cypress Bay in a regional semifinal contest next Tuesday.
“For someone who hadn’t played in front of the net since he was probably 11, Trevor did a great job out there,” said head coach John Walsh who wasn’t sure if regular goalkeeper Zach Solomon — who sustained a concussion in the team’s district semifinal win over Western — will be cleared to play by next week. “We’ll give it another shot next week and maybe it’s Cypress Bay. They seem to be the class of the area the last couple of years so we’ll just go out there and take our chances.”
BILL DALEY
Region 4-5A Varela 1, Reagan 1 (4-2 PK): Gian Artuso’s goal in penalty kicks at Harris Field advanced the Vipers (13-3-3) past the Bison to the Region 4-5A semifinal.
“I was just thinking positive and decided to go bottom left,’’ said Artuso of the winning kick.
The first goal of regulation was scored by Artuso in the 10th minute. Minutes later, a header goal by Gabriel Oliveira evened the score for the Bisons (17-6-1).
The 1-1 tie held through regulation and two 10-minute periods of golden goal overtime.
The Vipers will face the winner of Coral Reef and Coral Gables next Tuesday in the semifinal.
DARREN COLLETTE
Region 4-4A quarterfinal: Belen 3, Pembroke Pines Charter 0: Junior Francisco De La Camara scored two goals in the first half to lead the host Wolverines (18-3) over the Jaguars (12-3-3).
Senior Marcelo Hernandez had the assist on both of De La Camara’s goals. Hernandez also had the final goal, which came in the last minute of the game.
The Jaguars’ goalie was positioned at midfield in an attempt to join the attack. But Hernandez got the ball, dribbled past the keeper and beat a defender to wrap up the game.
Freshman goalie Alejandro Pujals earned the shutout, and Belen Coach Tanger Mendonca said the Wolverines will host the semifinal and — if they advance — the regional final as well.
“It’s a great opportunity,’’ said Mendonca, whose team advanced to the regional semifinals for the third time in four years.
WALTER VILLA
Region 4-2A — Westminster Christian 5, Edison 1: Alanderson Francois chipped the Westminster Christian keeper to give Edison its first goal in a 5-1 region 4-2A win Thursday at Little Haiti Park.
Francois’ brilliant touch was followed by Francisco Noel’s upper-90 rip into the far post to give the Red Raiders a 2-0 first-half edge. Noel would score again in the second half.
James Barrios scored for the Warriors in the loss. The Red Raiders play at Gulliver in the region 4-2A semifinal.
ALEX BUTLER
Region 4-5A quarterfinal — Coral Gables 4, Coral Reef 3: A late goal by Daniel Velez helped lift the Coral Gables Cavaliers over Coral Reef at Milander Park.
With the score tied at 3-3 with 12 minutes remaining in the second half, a free kick in the box landed at the feet of Velez, who fired a shot into the upper-right corner of the goal for the game-winner.
JOEL DELGADO
Region 14-5A semifinal — Cypress Bay 3, Flanagan 1: Nicholas Arboleda scored two goals and added an assist to lead Cypress Bay past Flanagan in Weston.
Arboleda scored his first goal five minutes into the match. Fernando Ramirez raced down the right wing and centered the ball to Arboleda, who was standing at the top of the goal mouth and delivered a right-footed shot past the Flanagan goalkeeper for an early 1-0 advantage.
“It was important that we took control of the game early and play aggressive,’’ Arboleda said.
“We kept the pressure on and wanted the ball to stay on their end of the field.’’
Said Cypress Bay coach Colin Ilgner, “We are getting to our peak performance at the right time. We came back from winter break a little sluggish, but we are playing much better right now.’’
The Lightning (16-1-2) will host St. Thomas in a quarterfinal match Tuesday night at 7 pm. Cypress Bay won both previous meetings against the Raiders this season, including the district championship game. Flanagan closes its season at 10-4-7.
SCOTT SALOMON
Region 4-4A quarterfinal — American 1, Krop 0 (4-2 PKs): After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, who would survive and move on and who would go home between American and Mater Academy at Traz Powell Stadium came down to penalty kicks.
And fortunately for head coach Richie Pelaez and his Patriots players, their goalkeeper, Jacob Velez was up to the task as he made two tremendous diving saves, one to the right and one to the left, as American won the shootout.
The win advances the Patriots (18-2-1) to next week’s regional semifinals where they will travel south to take on Belen Jesuit at Belen on Tuesday afternoon.
“Survive and advance, that’s what playoff soccer is all about,” said Peleaz. “There are no guarantees, you have to do whatever you have to do and if it’s PKs, then that's what you do.
“Nothing is given to you at this time, everybody wants it and Mater played well, so give credit to them.
“We were a little unlucky with those two shots in overtime, but Jacob came through for us in a big way.”
The two shots Peleaz referred to were a pair of Patriot shots just 30 seconds apart in the second overtime, the first by Mathew Vargas, the second by Enzo Vinuesa that doinked off the left post and crossbar, respectively, that would’ve won it.
“Half the battle is having a keeper with plenty of confidence and that’s big at this time of year,” said Pelaez. “We entered the shootout with plenty of confidence.”
Mater, which was competing in only its second-ever regional game, finished 13-5-5.
BILL DALEY
This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 11:14 PM with the headline "Three-minute flurry helps Gulliver top Ransom."