- December 30, 2024
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The Bears celebrate after taking a 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Gabriela Calidonio prepares to punt the ball down the field. Photo by Ray Boone
The Bulldogs' Hailey Bovino fends off a Bears player during the district title game. Photo by Ray Boone
After Flagler Palm Coast went in halftime in the Class 7A District 1 championship tied 0-0 with Bartram Trail — the No. 3-ranked girls winter soccer team in the nation — Bulldogs head coach Pete Hald was slightly worried that the Bears would be motivated to take total control in the second half.
The Bears did score one goal early in the second period, but the Bulldogs never surrendered, despite losing the game the night of Friday, Feb. 7, at Bartram Trail High School.
“I’m happy that we didn’t fold,” said Hald, who made his 18th-straight appearance in the district final. “We could have folded after that. We weathered the storm. I’m not into moral victories, but we learned a lot.”
Bulldogs junior goalie Gabriela Calidonio was one of FPC’s top players throughout the district tournament, stopping three shots in a penalty shootout against Oakleaf in the district semifinal on Feb. 4.
“Going in I’m always nervous, but as soon as I’m on the field, I’m excited,” she said. “It was tough, but we played our best as a team.”
The Bulldogs were seeded seventh in Region 1, where they’ll square off against rival Spruce Creek at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the regional quarterfinal.
