Seay hey kid: Jessie Seay scores four goals in FPC's girls soccer win against Matanzas

Photos by Jake Montgomery 

Flagler Palm Coast's Jessie Seay had never scored four goals in a varsity soccer game before. It was only fitting that she accomplished the feat on senior night at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.

Seay's fourth goal ended the game with 2:11 left because of the eight-goal rule as FPC defeated Matanzas 8-0 on Friday, Dec. 16.

"She's really an aggressive player. She has a lot of pace."

— PETE HALD on senior Jessie Seay

"She's really an aggressive player. She has a lot of pace," Bulldogs coach Pete Hald said of Seay, who was one of six seniors honored before the game along with Emma Swearingen, Ava Houstoun, Hailey Tucker, Ava O'Malley and Isabella Zuller.

Savannah O'Grady, Isabella Kummernes, Erin Hughes and Neveah Battle each added a goal for the Bulldogs (10-2-1), who stretched their unbeaten streak to eight games.

Seay scored four goals in a game as a freshman on the JV team but never on this level, she said. She scored two goals with her left foot and two with her right.

"Tonight we were definitely good on through balls," Seay said. "Through balls get us where we need to be."

The four goals gave Seay 11 for the season, and they came in the first game that FPC was playing without Swearingen, who broke her collarbone in a 3-1 win against New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 13.  Swearingen, who plays both center back and forward, led the Bulldogs with nine goals entering the game. She suffered a similar injury two years ago and missed four weeks, Hald said.

Hald doubts that Swearingen can return for the Five Star Conference tournament, which begins on Jan. 7, but he hopes the Bulldogs' co-captain can return before the district tournament, which begins Jan. 25.

"It's a huge loss for us," Hald said. "Some of our other players are going to have to grow up."

Matanzas fell to 0-4-1. The Pirates are in a rebuilding season with 13 freshmen and sophomores and just four juniors and seniors on the roster. They are scheduled to host First Baptist Christian Academy at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20.