By Johnny Inama

     The Ponte Vedra boys soccer team has started the 2022 campaign and they are hungry for success. They opened the season at home against Spruce Creek, who came in 0-1. The game was back and forth for the start of the first half, until the sharks got their first goal scored by junior striker, Jeffery Tillman. Shortly after, left wing Tariku Hammons was subbed on and subsequently was fouled by the Spruce Creek defense, setting up a penalty kick. Senior captain center midfielder, Andres Villasana, handled the pressure and executed to put the sharks up 2-0. Right after, senior captain goalkeeper, Will Sheehan, made a crucial double save followed by a nice clearance from junior left back, Jonathan Sonntag, to end the half still up 2-0. Spruce Creek came out of the half and scored twice tying the game at 2-2 with just minutes left. However, Spruce Creek made a crucial mistake shortly after with an own goal credited to junior striker, Jeffery Tillman, who would be given a red card following the goal. “Towards the end of the game it got really sloppy and we stopped talking to each other and we lost our composure,” said junior left wing, Bobby Hitchcock following the game. Despite a poor second half the sharks pulled out a close win with a final score of 3-2 to start the season right.

     The sharks were expected to play a game on Thursday, Nov. 10, but the game was canceled due to the possibility of an incoming hurricane. The sharks will next play on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in their first away game against a 0-1 Menendez team.