- April 19, 2024
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Spruce Creek and FPC soccer players leap for a header inside the Bulldogs' box. Photo by Ray Boone
Spruce Creek's Ally Runge strikes a ball against the Bulldogs. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks forward Jordan Di Verniero dribbles the ball against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
In the Spruce Creek girls soccer team’s goal, a freshman promoted from the Hawks’ junior varsity squad, Elizabeth Greenberg, is in the place of four-year starter and team captain Gabrielle McDaniel, who is out for the season following an ACL tear in early December. On the bench, two girls are healing from leg fractures. On the field, the Hawks’ Audrey Springer and Jordan Di Verniero played through their own injuries, Di Verniero playing through a twisted knee and a mouth ailing from wisdom teeth surgery.
The Hawks tried to battle through the pain — and the 40-degree Palm Coast temperatures — but the Bulldogs were out for revenge.
In a game that was originally scheduled for a Jan. 9 showdown, the Hawks (13-3-2) were defeated 2-1 by Flagler Palm Coast on the night of Thursday, Jan. 18, at FPC High School. The Hawks, who last defeated the Bulldogs 2-0 on Nov. 11, scored their lone goal in the second half after falling behind 2-0.
Di Verniero scored the 142nd goal of her career on a penalty kick with 10 minutes left in the game.
“Jordan and Audrey were troopers today,” Spruce Creek coach Edson Abadia said. “They’re starting to come out of the splints and the crutches. Within a week or two, we’ll be back to 100%.”
Abadia said his team failed to match the physicality of the Bulldogs.
“I think, from a physical aspect, they came out and took more initiative,” he said. “They took the game to us versus us taking the game to them.”
With the loss, the Hawks give up the No. 1 seed to the Bulldogs heading into the district tournament.
The Hawks are hoping for another shot at their rival.
“We’ll play FPC again and we’ll come back stronger the next time,” Di Verniero said. “We’ll watch the game film, come back and learn from our mistakes, and next time, we won’t make them.”
