- November 5, 2024
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All Matanzas forward Gabbi Paiz needed was to score one goal on Tuesday night. Instead, she scored three, etching her name in the Matanzas High School record books.
Paiz became the first soccer player — boys or girls — in school history to surpass the 100-goal mark when she netted three goals in Matanzas’ 7-0 win over Nease.
“Three-and-a-half years ago, I wouldn’t think I would have scored this many,” Paiz said after the game. “I am just so blessed to have such an awesome team, great coaches and supportive parents to help me be the player I am.”
The record-setting goal came on a one-touch finish inside the box about 15 minutes into Tuesday’s game, giving Matanzas a 1-0 lead.
Paiz’s second goal came on a shot that Nease’s goalkeeper misread. The third came on a through-ball from freshman Miracle Porter, who also assisted the 100th goal.
Matanzas coach Tony Benvenuto admitted Tuesday that when Paiz was a freshman, he never thought about her reaching 100 goals.
During Paiz’s first three years, she played against tough opponents in one of the top soccer districts in the state.
Still, she was able to tally 87 goals in those first three seasons.
“Going into this season, I knew she was going to achieve (100 goals), but I didn’t think she was going to do it after six games,” Benvenuto said.
According to FPC and Matanzas officials, Paiz becomes the third player in Flagler County history to score more than 100 goals in a four-year career. Jamie Farrell and Casey Lademann both scored more than 100 goals for FPC.
Paiz has tallied 15 goals through Matanzas’ first six games, helping lead the Lady Pirates to a 6-0 start and outscoring opponents 51-0. (Matanzas played Deltona on Wednesday night, and that score was too late for print.)
Paiz said one of her favorite quotes is from Abby Wambach, one of the greatest female goal-scorers in American soccer history: “A goal isn’t a goal without an assist.”
Well, Paiz has gotten plenty of assists over the last 3.5 years from teammates on the field and from friends, family and classmates off the field.
“I feel overwhelmed with excitement that I made history,” Paiz said. “Records are meant to be broken, but I am glad to be the first to experience it.”
Benvenuto also noted that Paiz hasn't missed a practice.
“Gabbi is a great example that when you combine hard work with God-given talent, only good things will come from it,” Benvenuto said. “I’m just blessed that I have had the opportunity to coach Gabbi.”
Matanzas travels to play crosstown Flagler Palm Coast at 7 p.m. Friday.
