- November 6, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast finished the season 12-4, second in the district tournament.
Flagler Palm Coast was eliminated from the Class 5A state playoffs Tuesday night after losing to Mandarin, 3-0, in the regional quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs (12-4) finished the season on two consecutive losses.
In the game Tuesday night, Mandarin took a 1-0 lead within the first five minutes. Then, about 15 minutes into the game, Mandarin took a 2-0 early lead.
FPC assistant coach Reg Monsanto said the Bulldogs pushed a bit too hard during the end of the first half when Mandarin counterattacked for a third goal. The Bulldogs had the better of the possession in the second half, but couldn’t mount a comeback.
The Bulldogs outshot Mandarin 7-3 in the second half.
Monsanto said though FPC is losing six seniors — three of whom are starters — the program is on the path toward consistently having a shot at district championships.
“I think (this season) was a step in the right direction,” Monsanto said. “And if every year we can keep stepping in the right direction, we’ll create our own legacy rather than live in the shadow of the legacy that was created 10 years ago.”
Last week in the Class 2-5A district championship Friday, Jan. 27, FPC lost to Spruce Creek, 1-0, in a physical matchup between the top two seeds.
Spruce Creek scored on a 40-yard free kick with about 15 minutes left in the game. The Hawks also had a penalty kick in the first half, but the shot came back off the post.
FPC’s best scoring opportunities were midway through the first half. The Bulldogs did hit the crossbar off a corner kick with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.
