- November 5, 2024
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For the last 65 minutes of play Friday night, the Flagler Palm Coast High School and Spruce Creek High boys soccer teams were evenly matched. But it was the first 15 minutes of play that decided the game's outcome.
“They came out on fire, and we came out with sparks; that was the difference,” said FPC assistant coach Reg Monsanto.
Creek scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of play, and FPC was not able to catch up, losing to the Hawks 2-0 in the 5A District 2 finals.
“I think we need to come out of the gates on fire and meet the passion and intensity that the other teams bring, and then we won’t fall behind,” Monsanto said of the team’s progression through the state playoffs. “We always finish strong, but for us to compete and go further, we need to start strong. I think they want to ease into the game but, at this level you can’t. You have to go full-throttle.”
After those first 15 minutes of Friday's game, FPC calmed down and battled, but penalties were called and yellow cards were given left and right.
“We try to play a clean style of soccer, which is proven with the number of yellow cards we’ve had all season – we’ve probably had more tonight than we have all season long combined,” Monsanto said. “We’re not used to playing a rough style of soccer, which is what Spruce Creek plays, or maybe that’s what they decided to play tonight, or the ref let them get away with a couple things early and we weren’t ready for that.”
As FPC goes deeper into the playoffs, Monsanto said teams are going to get tougher and hungrier, and the Bulldogs need to man up to meet their intensity.
FPC (11-3-3) will travel to Mandarin Thursday, Jan. 30, for the regional quarterfinals.
