By: Henry Weitz

On Jan. 23 the Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) Sharks boys soccer team faced the Englewood High School (EHS) Rams in the district semifinal at the Shark Tank. The match was the Sharks first postseason game after their undefeated season. Their record from the regular season no longer matters and the Sharks will have to play each match now with a new intensity. The Rams hovered around 9-9-1 on the regular season so on paper this was an easy opponent for PVHS. PVHS began hot with a penalty kick from senior midfielder, Pascal Rocha. Rocha buried the goal with ease and the Sharks struck first 1-0. Not long after, senior midfielder, Jake Romano took a long shot from the right side outside the box. Romano connected on a well placed shot which widened the margin of victory to 2-0. Senior defender, JP Laverde fouled the Ram attacker in the box and EHS was granted a penalty kick. Senior goalkeeper, Keegan Cornett could not do much to save the shot and the Rams struck back 2-1. Rocha was granted a second penalty kick and connected again with his second of the night. 3-1 Sharks. Senior defender, Owen Zimmerman was a force up front and chased down attackers all night long. Zimmerman finally forced an error in the Rams box and found the back of the net before half. PVHS was disorganized and allowed an easy EHS goal right before the end of the first half. Sharks led 4-2. After the break, sophomore defender, Jameson Siegel kicked off the half with a screamer to increase the Sharks lead to 5-2. PVHS became a brick wall on defense and held off the Rams for the remainder of the half. PVHS did not play their best, but the boys have time to regroup before their district final next week against their foe Beachside High School (BHS). 

Jan. 28 was the District Championship between the Sharks and the BHS Barracudas at the Shark Tank. In their last meeting, PVHS was forced to crawl back from a 2-0 deficit and ended up tying BHS in a 2-2 thrilling tie. Sadly, the Sharks did not bring their best out for this match and the Barracudas took advantage of their opponents. PVHS was missing their cornerstone defender in senior goalkeeper and Naval Academy commit, Keegan Cornett who was out with a thumb injury. Senior goalkeeper, Joe Serino stepped up though and played an amazing game at keeper with multiple gritty saves while allowing only one goal. PVHS had a hard time finding their footing on offense and the Sharks were held scoreless. BHS picked up a single goal that ricocheted off of the left post, Serino was hardly at fault as the goal was nearly unsavable. The final whistle blew and PVHS earned their first loss of the year to their rivals BHS 1-0. No matter, due to their success in the regular season PVHS has their bid in the regional tournament against Choctawhatchee High School on Feb. 6. 

Pictured: Alec Perry (12) celebrating a teammates goal in the Shark Tank (@fenneyflics).