Local High School Soccer Teams to Play in Respective Regionals

Three Gainesville High School girls soccer teams Buchholz, Eastside, and Santa Fe will be looking for wins in the regional finals tonight. The Buchholz boys soccer team will also be looking for a win tonight in their regional quarterfinal that was canceled yesterday due to field conditions.

For the girls, Buchholz (15-3) will host Oviedo (18-2) at Citizens Field for a region 1-5A match-up. This is Buchholz’s first regional final since 2010 after defeating Flagler Palm Coast on penalty kicks. Buchholz won their only state title in 1983 and last reached the state semifinals in 2000. Top players for Buchholz include senior mid-field Maya Fisher with 15 goals and seven assists, junior forward Lauren Belforti with 12 goals and 10 assists, and junior goalkeeper Ashley Pietra with eight shutouts. Winner of this game will take on the Region 3 champion, either Vero Beach or Lake Worth Park Vista, in the semifinals of the Florida High School Girls Soccer State Championships.

Eastside (22-3-1) will play at Land O’Lakes (21-2) for a region 2-3A match-up. This is Eastside’s first regional final since 2000 and first time on the road during the playoffs. Eastside advanced to the regional finals by defeating Seabreeze through penalty kicks. Top players for Eastside include freshman forward Sierra Millinor with 32 goals and 11 assists, freshman mid-field Isa Quintana with 19 goals and 16 assists, and senior goalkeeper Sofia Smith with 37 saves and 14 shutouts. Eastside head coach Sergio Quintana says Millinor is a great asset to the team and is a terrific player. Winner will face the Region 3 champion, either Plantation American Heritage or North Fort Meyers, in the state semifinals at the Florida High School Girls Soccer State Championships.

Last for the girls, Santa Fe (23-2-1) will host Orlando Bishop Moore (20-1-3) for a region 2-2A match-up. Santa Fe will be fighting for a win in this rematch after Bishop Moore visited Alachua county last year and defeated Santa Fe 6-0. Santa Fe has outscored their opponents in their last six matches 43-5. Top players for Santa Fe include senior forward Taylor Martin with 48 goals and 20 assists, junior mid-field Kim Melton with 37 goals and 14 assists and freshman mid-field Abby Rivas with 23 goals and 22 assists. Winner of this match will play Region 4 champion, either Miami Gulliver Prep or Fort Lauderdale Pinecrest, in the semifinals at the Florida High School Girls Soccer State Championships.

The Buchholz (9-7-4) boys soccer team will take on Spruce Creek (19-5) for their rescheduled 1-5A regional quarterfinals game. The winner of this game will take on Mandarin who won against DeLand 3-1 in their regional quarterfinal game yesterday. Buchholz head coach Joseph Pobee says he does not know much about Spruce Creek as a team but is not worried about the upcoming game.

All games are set for 7:00 p.m.