SPORTS
BACK ON TOP
SOCCER WINS ITS
SCHOOL-RECORD
SEVENTH STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP AS ZACH
BOARD ’20 SCORES
THREE TIMES IN AN EPIC
TITLE MATCH
near-misses, the storied Jesuit
High School soccer program is
Zach Board '20 scored three goals as
the Tigers won a wild shootout on February
29 in DeLand over Pembroke Pines
Charter, 5-4, to claim the program's 7th
successful since it captured both the
State and National title in 2001 – the
-
ances, and numerous other Region
Final appearances in that time, while
short of the ultimate goal. Many years
the team was denied on penalty kicks,
18 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2020
Zach Board ’20 is mobbed by teammates Lucas
Gobea ’20 (left) and Carson Bien ’20 after Board’s
3rd goal gave Jesuit a 5-3 lead in the title game
Plantation American Heritage.
This time, Jesuit turned the page on
frustration with a triumph for the ages to
earn the Class 5A crown. Falling behind
1-0 on a windy day that wreaked havoc
on defenders, the Tigers notched back-
2-1 lead at intermission.
came off the bench to spark Jesuit
beating teammate Oliver Petrillo '20 to a
from Lucas Gobea '20 for the halftime
lead.
The wind seemed to pick up even more
referee's whistle as fouls and yellow
cards slowed down play. PPC (18-3-2)
tied it a few minutes after intermission
on a penalty kick (hand ball), igniting an
-
utes of action. Moments later Jesuit went
ahead 3-2 when Board blasted home
a loose ball from close range after a
top 4-3. He corralled a long ball from
Christian Fairchild '22 down the left
wing, cutting square past defenders
and darting into the box, then deftly
wrong-footing the PPC 'keeper to put
the Tigers on top for good and uncorking
Spec Martin Stadium.
Board, who hadn't played all season
until the District playoffs due to a knee
-
Carson
Bien '20
coolly unleashed a left-footed missile
that roared into the netting and proved
to be the winning goal.
PPC threw everyone forward and kept
Jesuit goalkeeper Bryce Denick '20 was
resolute, sure-handedly denying any
opportunities.
Jesuit has played in (112) and won (83)
more Region and State playoff games
than any school in Florida history, and
now the Tigers are tied for the second
most boys State soccer titles overall
with their 7th crown in 10 championship
game appearances. Head coach Eric
, in his 7th season at the helm of
Tiger soccer, now has a head coaching
State Championship to go with the one
It is the school's 24th State title in
country (4), basketball (3), swimming (2),
(1).