- November 1, 2024
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There was a boys soccer game between Mainland and Flagler Palm Coast on the night of Monday, Jan. 8, at FPC High School. But unless you were on the field, you wouldn’t know it.
After temperatures dropped into the low 50s, a thick cover of fog rolled across the field at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium. They players in the game were hardly visible from the stands. The ball seemingly disappeared into the dense air when kicked. And the teams’ benches, which sit directly opposite the fans, were completely blocked from view.
Regardless, the Bulldogs (4-11-2) overcame the harsh conditions to rout the Buccaneers 5-0 in the opening game of 2018.
Freshman Bodie Bice scored the opening goal for the Bulldogs, and Jorge Giacobbe-Arauz led FPC with two goals.
The Buccaneers had several shots on-goal but were unable to convert. Their best chance to score came in the second half on a penalty kick. However, Bulldogs goal keeper Stephen Usina stopped the shot to preserve the shutout.
The Pirates were set to honor their most storied player in program history, Miracle Porter, with a jersey retirement on Dec. 22 in their game against rival FPC. However, the Bulldogs (12-2-2) rained on Matanzas' parade with a 6-0 shutout of the Pirates at Matanzas High School.
Senior Julia Lombardo led the Bulldogs with three goals. Senior Brittany Murphy, senior Saba Amiri and sophomore Ashley Puentes all scored a goal apiece.
The loss was the Pirates' third in a row. However, the Pirates (6-8) were able to bounce back with an 8-0 win over Orange Park on Jan. 8 to open up 2018.
The Bulldogs' girls basketball team did not have the best holiday break this December.
FPC was steamrolled 72-40 by Sandalwood on Dec. 21 and dropped a close game to Holy Cross 52-49 on Dec. 27. The Bulldogs lost again on Dec. 28 to Lincoln Park 41-34. Skye Green was the only Bulldog to score in double figures against Lincoln Park with 12 points.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a 44-28 win over Lake Nona on Jan. 5, with Dyman Howard scoring a game-high 10 points. However, the Bulldogs dropped their last game 51-48 to Fernandina Beach on Jan. 6. Howard and Green each chipped in 11 points in the loss.
The Pirates (7-5) had an up-and-down start to the 2017-18 season. But despite dropping two games during the holiday break, Matanzas closed out 2017 with wins over Elite Academy on Dec. 28 and a tournament team on Dec. 29.
Senior Greg Layne scored 24 points in the second win.
