- December 26, 2024
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Matanzas senior Fatima Barham (7) with the thumbs up. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Emma Diaz. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Alexis Wilson. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Destiny Dorsey. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior goalkeeper Emma Diaz. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Fatima Barham. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Isabella Rivera. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior goalkeeper Jen Rumplick. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Sahara Wilks. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
Matanzas senior Victoria Wilcox. Photo by Sarah Cusato-Brown
The pregame was a bit sad for Matanzas girls soccer coach Scott Crooke as he honored 11 seniors Dec. 16.
"I've been here the whole time they've been here," Crooke said.
But once the game started, the bittersweet senior night ceremony turned into party time as the Pirates thrashed Pine Ridge 7-1 with seniors scoring six of the goals.
"The girls wanted a good game on senior night," Crooke said. "Pine Ridge (5-6-1) is a very competitive team, so we didn't know what to expect."
Sahara Wilks had a hat trick for the Pirates, while Victoria Wilcox scored two goals. Fatima Barham scored on a penalty kick. Freshman Cassidy Simon, the only underclassman to score in the game for Matanzas, tapped one in off a corner kick from senior Olivia Slusarz.
"That was a great ball Olivia played in," Crooke said.
Crooke said the Pirates (5-6-1) matched up well with the Panthers and gained confidence as the game went on.
"They were able to break through in the opportunity zones we've been working on," Crooke said. "I've noticed that once they get on the positive side of things they start connecting really well with each other."
With 11 seniors graduating, Crooke said it was important to get the JV program back running this season after not having enough players to field a JV team last year.
"Luckily we'll have replacements next year," he said.
The Pirates have seven games remaining in the regular season. They host Flagler Palm Coast on Jan. 4.
