Young Seminoles look ahead
Noles fall 3-1 in State Semi-Finals
DELAND – The Seminoles’ season came to an end Tuesday night with a hard-fought 3-1 loss to top-ranked Palm Harbor University in the FHSAA 7A State Semifinal at Spec Martin Stadium.
Seminole’s run to the state Final Four was an improbable one. Ranked 12th in Class 7A entering the postseason, the Seminoles advanced by winning three straight road matches, including a victory over No. 6 Creekside in the regional semifinals and a win against No. 7 West Orange in the regional final.
“It was unbelievable — all away games — to beat the No. 1 team, the No. 2 team. They just fought and fought,” Seminole coach Frankie Cipolla said.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Seminole generated several scoring chances in the second half before Nathaniel Melendez found the net to pull the Seminoles within one. The team continued to battle until the final whistle.
The future is bright for the Seminoles. The team loses five seniors off this year’s team and could return as many as 19 players who made the trip to Spec Martin on next year’s team.
“For being so young, they were so mature, and they never stopped working until the very end,” Cipolla said. “Against one of the best teams in the nation, I am so happy and so proud to be their coach.”
