By Henry Weitz
On Feb. 6 the Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) Sharks boys soccer team faced the Choctawhatchee High School (CHS) Indians, from Fort Walton, Florida in the regional tournament at the Shark Tank. The week prior, PVHS dropped a crucial match in the District Finals to Beachside High School in a 1-0 heartbreaker. The match began and the two teams battled hard for possession. CHS struck first with a screamer that snuck past senior goalkeeper, Joe Serino. PVHS went into the halftime break down 1-0 to the Indians. CHS had the clear height advantage as they were able to win most 50/50 balls and headers. After the break, PVHS came out with new energy and started to get started on offense. The Sharks missed many shots on goal and the Indian seemed to be besting the offense. Senior midfielder Jake Romano came through in the clutch and banged the Sharks first goal of the game and leveled the score 1-1. Unfortunately for PVHS, a CHS attacker broke through the back line of the Sharks defense. The Indian attacker found the right post and the ball ricocheted off into the net, a nearly unsavable goal for PVHS. The Sharks deficit became 2-1. PVHS continued their shots on the CHS goal but none found the back of the net. The final whistle blew and the Sharks season had come to an end in the Regional Tournament. This was the last game at the Shark Tank for seniors, Keegan Cornett and Joe Serino, Alec Ranford, Alec Perry, JP Laverde, Owen Zimmerman, Samuel Camacho, Eric Hanel, Charlie Itkoff, Brayden Sandoval, Pascal Rocha, Marcus Warren, Connor Smith, Jake Romano, Oliver Minch, Antonio Mahfuz, and Nick Churchill. Cornett will go on to play goalkeeper at the Naval Academy next fall and there are other seniors considering playing at the next level as well. The future is bright for PVHS boys soccer with many young prospects but the coaching staff will have to find new players with seventeen boys graduating this year. PVHS boys soccer has a lot to be proud of as the boys competed their first undefeated regular season in ten years. The last undefeated season was the 2015-2016 team that won the 3A State Championship.
Pictured: Paschal Rocha (12) dribbling the soccer ball (@fenneysflics)
