Somerset Canyons soccer's historic state run ends with rout in final
· Yahoo Sports
AUBURNDALE — Somerset Canyons' first-ever state run came up one game short.
The Cougars fell to national powerhouse Downtown Doral, 5-0, on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale.
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The Dolphins (19-1-3) settled into the game quickly and exerted midfield pressure to force an early goal, and then doubled down with a second in the 31st minute to pin Somerset Canyons (16-3-2) in a first-half hole.
Goalkeeper Massimo Valdepenas made two crucial saves and had two further punchouts to help keep Doral at bay, including an athletic tip over the bar, while Kingston Alexis drove the offense forward to build momentum in the final 10 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, that momentum did not transfer into goals, and Doral's Victor Villalobos added a third class strike to beat a diving Valdepenas in the second half.
Somserset Canyons did not get any help from the officiating crew, as two attacking movements were halted by contested fouls — including one in which it appeared Alexis was contacted in the box as he released his shot.
With the Cougars adjusting shape and pushing members forward, Downtown Doral was able to add two more goals prior to the final water break.
The loss is a difficult one to end a season on for Somerset Canyons, a team that boasts nine seniors.
But the Cougars can take heart in reaching the state title game for the first time in program history, the latest building block in the culture if success for both the boys soccer team and the school.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Somerset Canyons falls to Downtown Doral in state soccer final