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The third attraction is the timeless idiom.
But for the fourth time, it took the Pace women’s soccer team and their seniors to build the magic they needed to beat their rivals.
Navarre has finished a season for the Patriots in each of the last three divisions. This time, the red, white and blue girls got their revenge on home soil after he won 1-0 in the District 1-6A semifinals at Bennett C. Russell Stadium on Friday.
The Raiders have won their last three districts 14-1 combined, including an 8-0 crushing loss last season. Now Pace has returned the favor and is going through the process.
“It’s so sweet,” said Chandler Castleman, Pace’s head coach. It’s also the most embarrassing result..but to beat them in the district.It feels good to be in the semi-finals and 6th in the region.We’ve come a long way.”
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The only score of the match was put in by Alexandra Verzel in the 14th minute. Junior midfielder Becca After his Ryan throw-in bounced off, the junior midfielder filled in a chance from behind the box.
“Over the course of the season, we really struggled to keep the ball on the ground and not shoot,” Basel said. “It feels really good to really get over it and achieve that goal for the team.”
The Patriots were the No. 2 seed in the district and the Navarra were the No. 3 seed. Pace extended his unbeaten streak to eight games and extended his season record to 10 wins, 2 losses and 2 losses.
The team will take on top-seeded Gulf Breeze for the district title on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bennett C. Russell Stadium.
Unable to score an equalizer, the Raiders’ season may have ended 11-8-2. The team entered the week in 9th place in Region 1-6A. However, Navarre fell two spots short of the region’s final public bid as all district champions won automatic bids.
Raiders head coach Rob Simon said, “I made one mistake in the first half that put the girl wide open.” She hit a cracker. ..we created chances but shot ourselves for not finishing.”
Here are the three points from Friday’s semi-finals:
“All my trust in her”
On a frigid night off the pitch, the visitors were forced to change cold players, both figuratively and literally, to maintain their lead.
Pace freshman goalkeeper Paityn Settlemires was brought into the game after starting keeper Sidney Roest had to be sent off in the 75th minute. Sliding for the ball deep in the box, the senior collided with his sophomore forward Taylor Armstead of the Raiders and banged his head.
Roast slowly got to his feet and walked away from the field. From there, Settlemailes was responsible for signing contracts with teams that would fight for their lives in the playoffs.
“I was preparing myself mentally,” said the freshman. “I was nervous, but once I started playing, I calmed down.”
Settlemires made two mistakes from the start.
First, in the 76th minute, he hit a Navarra player with a long right drive goal kick in the attacking third. A minute later, she mishandled the ball rolling inside the box, allowing for a mad scramble before finally pouncing on it. secured the ball.
“I have known Petin for three or four years because she plays for my club. Mann said. “Obviously, in her freshman year, she made two mistakes. But then she was calm and composed and solid in the last five minutes. And we won the game. That’s why she’s on the national team as a freshman.”
Basel added: “It was very stressful to lose our main keeper Sydney, but we all believed in Peitin. She really showed up and helped her team win.”
“Work and fight”
She didn’t finish the night, but Roast provided her most impactful moments early in the second half.
Navarre senior forward Kayla Johnson took control of the ball near midfield in the 45th minute and delivered a perfect through pass to Armstead. The sophomore, who streaked towards goal from the left side of the pitch, had a shot, but Roast made it with a kick save. She instinctively made her second save as Armstead stepped in on the rebound.
Roast’s effort was one-upped by Raiders defender Emma Toms in the 64th minute.
Similar to Johnson’s play in the first half of the half, Pace’s senior forward Eva Grace Wheaton had possession with her back to the goal before turning and lifting a high pass towards the box. Navarre freshman goaltender Ira Greer charged the ball, but Patriots sophomore Emily Goode broke free following the deflection and stared into the open net. Toms zoomed in on the play and knocked the ball out into the corner.
“It’s just the dynamics of the team. They just keep working and keep fighting,” Simon said. “The game is always going on and there is no time to stand and watch something. …Emma’s great play, heads-up play-up in tough conditions and athleticism to sprint off the line.”
“If not, better stop now.”
Castleman admits his team isn’t up to the challenge other elite teams have. Pace (6.39) ranks ninth among the region’s top 10 teams in schedule strength .
But the Patriots didn’t get 10 wins just by beating the cupcakes. Their best results during the regular season included a 4-2 victory over Niceville on January 11 and a 2-1 victory over Navarra eight days later.
After leading the team to double-digit wins in his first season as head coach, Castleman credits his goals for his success this season.
“I think we’re going back to the norm,” he said. “A few years ago, I don’t know what the standards were, but when I came in, I had expectations for myself and how we were going to play. I wasn’t sure if the level was really there, but after a decent 10-5 last year, even against better teams , expectations are high, the girls live up to expectations and we’re here for a reason.”
There is one team that was paced Kryptonite in the 2022-23 campaign. Gulf Breeze.
The Dolphins have given the Patriots only two losses, the first being a 4-1 win on November 17 and a 6-2 win on December 7.
Gulf Breeze, the best team in the region, ranked 3rd in Class 6A and 15th overall. The fate-changing pace against the Juggernaut will be the best performance of the year.
“I don’t think Gulf Breeze makes that easy,” Castleman said. “I think they are the favorites. “I think it’s over and the girls are in a better place than they were back then. I think we can get results. If not, better stop now.” “
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828 or [email protected].
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