- March 25, 2025
FPC's Penelope McDonald (3) carries the ball in her long stick. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Zoe Alred (6) leads the attack. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Gianna Seifert goes for a ground ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Sofia Fretterd tries to knock the ball loose from Katita Carvajal. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas sophomore Katita Carvajal (27) fights past FPC's Sofia Fetterd. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Matanzas girls lacrosse team defeated Flagler Palm Coast 9-5 on March 7, and four days later, the Matanzas boys team completed the sweep with a 17-9 win over FPC. Both games were played at FPC’s Sal Campanella Stadium.
In the girls game, the Pirates took advantage of a two-minute FPC penalty early in the second half to score four straight goals and take an 8-3 lead.
“We’re able to take advantage when we’re a person up,” Matanzas coach Brandie Alred said. “We don’t have just one person who can score, we have a lot of our offensive players who can score, which gives us an advantage. We have multiple ways to score.”
Mia Apfelbach had three goals for the Pirates. Zoe Alred added two goals, and Ashley Kassan had five saves. Five different players scored for FPC. Matanzas fell to 3-5 with a 10-6 loss at Menendez on March 11, while the Bulldogs improved to 3-4 with a 16-6 win over Sandalwood at home.
In the boys game on March 11, Vinnie Ferrugiaro scored five goals and Jonathan Santiago scored four to help Matanzas snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 3-6.
“This is the first time this season that we've really come together and gelled,” Matanzas coach Adam Frys said. “As a team, we had a lot of assisted goals tonight, and that's something we've been preaching. Share the ball with each other so they can shine.”
Carsen Ellis scored three goals for the Bulldogs (3-4), while Grant Winkler scored twice.
“Tonight wasn't the result we wanted,” FPC coach Michael Commendatore said. “But in terms of effort and teamwork, I think we played very well in those regards.”
Commendatore was a fan last year, supporting his son, goalie Aiden Commendatore, and his teammates. But when the Bulldogs needed a coach for the second year in a row, Michael Commendatore, a former club coach and college player, stepped in.
“Coaches can be hard to come by in Palm Coast,” he said. “The program was very solid last year, and I just wanted to continue lacrosse, because if you miss a season, it’s going to be hard to recover.”
