- January 11, 2025
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It has been 10 years since Flagler Palm Coast’s boys soccer team advanced to a title game in any tournament. On Friday, Jan. 10, the Bulldogs played to a 0-0 tie through two overtime periods, before falling to New Smyrna Beach, 3-2 in penalty kicks, in the Five Star Conference tournament championship game at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex.
Penalties are a gamble. It’s the most cruel way to lose. We can’t be upset. We played great the entire time.
— RAMTIN AMIRI, FPC boys soccer coach
“We’re the only team this entire season to not get scored on by them,” FPC coach Ramtin Amiri said. “Penalties are a gamble. It’s the most cruel way to lose. We can’t be upset. We played great the entire time.”
New Smyrna, ranked ninth in the state among Class 5A teams, improved to 12-1-4. If this had been a regular-season game, the Barracudas would have recorded their fifth tie instead of their 12th win and FPC (12-2-2) would still have just one loss on its record.
The Bulldogs held the ’Cudas scoreless despite missing three starting defenders.
“We called up two JV players, one who never played a varsity game,” Amiri said. “We had guys who stepped up. River (Rodriguez), who normally plays striker, played (defense). I think he played great for not (usually) playing there. We came with a gameplan, and it worked. Unfortunately, we lost on penalty kicks.”
New Smyrna opened up a 3-1 lead in the penalty-kick round, but FPC goalkeeper Teagan Paulo made two stops to set up a final attempt for each team. Paulo took the Bulldogs’ last attempt and missed. The ’Cudas converted their final attempt to clinch the conference title with FPC placing second.
“We live and learn,” Amiri said. “Hopefully, we come back in a situation like that and we take advantage.”
The Bulldogs finish their regular season with home games against St. Augustine on Jan. 13 and Tocoi Creek on Jan. 16.
