SOCCER

NSB, Pine Ridge, Seabreeze compete in FHSAA boys' soccer regional semifinals Saturday

The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Six local boys' soccer programs started the playoffs this week; only half survived to see the second round.

New Smyrna Beach, Pine Ridge and Seabreeze won their regional quarterfinals Wednesday night, earning the right to keep their seasons — and hopes of reaching the championship game at DeLand's Spec Martin Stadium — alive.

More:Pine Ridge, Seabreeze, NSB advance to FHSAA boys' soccer regional semifinals

All three teams are back in action at 7 p.m. Saturday. Here are previews of their win-or-go-home matches.

Cale Saunders, left, and the New Smyrna Beach boys' soccer team travel to Lakeland for its next playoff challenge.

New Smyrna Beach (13-4-4) at Lakeland George Jenkins (5-9-2)

The Barracudas turned a 1-1 deadlock into a runaway, firing four unanswered second-half goals past Bartow en route to a 6-2 win. Erickson Buck produced a two-goal game, while River Beeman, Brooks Beeman, Kyler Horvath and Morgan Donaldson scored once apiece. It's the first time since 1999 that New Smyrna Beach advanced, and the second year in a row the team will travel to George Jenkins. Jenkins won 19 games in 2019-20, and they have rebounded after a rough start this season. Senior Chase Moore is responsible for 16 of the Eagles' 26 goals.

Austin Dunlap (20) netted a hat trick in Pine Ridge's 5-1 win over Tampa Freedom in a Region 2-5A boys' soccer quarterfinal Wednesday.

Pine Ridge (11-5-3) at Land O' Lakes (10-5-2)

Chase Dunlap struck in the opening five minutes, and finished his hat trick within the final five for good measure. The senior, converted into a forward from his regular position in central defense, leads the Panthers with 22 goals. Jovan Matos-Soto is a handful for defenders on the wing with his trickery, and Tyler Schoenweiss anchors a defense allowing 1.2 goals per game. Land O' Lakes enters as a slight favorite, according to the state's MaxPreps rankings (14th in Class 5A; Pine Ridge is 21st). Freshman Vasilios Fotopoulos scored twice, and Connor Hutchinson had two assists in a 4-1 win over Lake Minneola.

Seabreeze's Chance Shamlou, right, leads the Sandcrabs at home Friday against Gainesville.

Gainesville (13-2-4) at Seabreeze (13-2-2)

Gainesville handled Seabreeze three times last season; the Sandcrabs will attempt to repay the favor. Seabreeze won 4-2 back on Dec. 10 and edged the Hurricanes 1-0 in the District 4-5A final. Chance Shamlou scored the lone goal, and Jake Feigenbaum made four saves. Gainesville advanced into the semifinal round by forfeit as Matanzas reported "possible COVID-19 exposure" on Wednesday morning. The Hurricanes have outscored opponents 43-13 this season