- November 23, 2024
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It’s never good to limp into the postseason.
The Matanzas Lady Pirates soccer team is hoping they won’t have the peg-leg syndrome as they prepare for the District 4-3A tournament, beginning with a quarterfinal showdown against Clay High School on Monday night.
Last Friday, Matanzas relinquished three leads in an emotional 4-3 loss to in-county rival Flagler Palm Coast.
Then, Matanzas lost to Bartram Trail, 4-0, on Tuesday night in the championship game of the St. Johns River Athletic Conference.
“I’m not sure if there was a hangover or something, but the girls never showed up to play,” coach Tony Benvenuto said. “It was the worst game they have played in a couple of years.”
Benvenuto said Bartam Trail hit the post several times, and the score could have easily been 7-0 or 8-0.
This was the third consecutive year Matanzas has played for the conference championships, but the Lady Pirates have no banner to show for it.
However, there’s no doubt Benvenuto has this program on the rise. Last Friday was the first time a Matanzas girls soccer team had ever scored a goal on FPC. Actually, Matanzas probably should have won the game.
But Benvenuto needs his team to move on. There are more important tasks at hand. That list begins with knocking off Clay in the quarterfinals — a similar situation to the last two years.
Two years ago, Matanzas defeated Clay, 2-1, in overtime at their place. Then last year, Matanzas won, 4-1, at home.
Earlier this year, the Lady Pirates defeated Clay, 4-1.
“But I know they’ve gotten better and they play some good soccer,” Benvenuto said. of Clay. “After last night’s performance, I’m afraid to even make a prediction. “
Benvenuto hopes his players can move on from two disappointing losses and get hot in the district tournament.
With a win against No. 5-seeded Clay, Matanzas (10-6-1), the No. 4 seed, will likely face top-seeded Ponte Vedra — the defending Class 3A state champions. Matanzas lost to Ponte Vedra 1-0 earlier this season. In that game, keeper Belle Benvenuto had 17 saves. Benvenuto said that was the best game his team has played all season.
Either way, it’s down to a one-game-at-a-time mentality, Benvenuto said.
“You lose, you go home,” he said. “I told the girls — and I used to tell the boys the same thing — ‘If you want to practice tomorrow, you have to win tonight.’”
Two wins, and Matanzas will be playing for the district championship and will secure a state playoff appearance.
It all starts Monday night: Matanzas vs. Clay will be 7 p.m. Monday, at Pirates Stadium.
