- April 25, 2024
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Addison Rio (26) works the ball for the Pirates. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas goalkeeper Taylor Basiger makes a save. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lorraine Wilson in warmups. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Katie Polak, left, battles for possession. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Goalkeeper Taylor Basiger gets ready to kick the ball to a teammate. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Emily Reyes (10) battles for the ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Pirates run off the field after the national anthem. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas girls soccer coach Scott Crooke knows his young squad has come a long way since the beginning of the season.
The amount of progress the Pirates have made was revealed on Friday, Jan. 20, as they ended their regular season with a 1-1 tie with Taylor High School at the Ship.
These same Taylor Wildcats beat Matanzas by the mercy rule, 8-0, on Dec. 9.
“We definitely played better tonight as a cohesive group than we did (in an 8-0 loss to Taylor on Dec. 9). Their coach said that too — what a difference in what they were up against.”
— SCOTT CROOKE, Matanzas girls soccer coach
“We definitely played better tonight as a cohesive group than we did in that game,” Crooke said. “Their coach said that too — what a difference in what they were up against.”
The Pirates showed early that this game would be different as sophomore midfielder Parker Inman scored an empty-net goal five minutes into the match to put the home team up 1-0.
Inman scored off an assist from freshman Caleigh Walden. Inman kicked it into the left corner off a deflection after goalie Jacqueline Galvan made a save in the right corner.
“It was nice to see (us) fight a little harder, come at it,” Crooke said. “It always feels good to have that comfort at the beginning of the game.”
The score would remain 1-0 until Taylor tied it up with a goal by April Mendoza with 4:25 left in the game.
The Wildcats were able to press the ball into the Pirates’ defense throughout the second half, but their aggressiveness was rewarded with just the one goal.
“I think a little exhaustion set in in the second half of the game,” Crooke said. “They kept the ball in our half. We did well defending it nicely.”
The Pirates (1-7-3) will meet Deltona (3-13-2) in a first-round District 5-5A game on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Matanzas has just three seniors and 13 freshmen and sophomores on the team. A win in the district tournament would help set the stage for next season.
“Last time we played (Taylor) we got mercied,” Inman said. “It’s a big difference from the beginning of the year, so I’m happy about that.”
