Soccer players will be looking for ways to keep themselves warm as Florida high school region soccer playoffs start next week.
Unusually cold temperatures in Central Florida are projected to dip below freezing at some point Sunday. Temperatures during Monday and Tuesday quarterfinals could be in the 30s for girls and boys playoffs that continue through Feb. 17.
The FHSAA released the state’s boys and girls regional soccer pairings late Thursday night, with several Orlando teams earning No. 1 seeds.
On the boys side, Windermere earned the top seed in 7A, Region 2, as did Bishop Moore in 4A-2, and Lake Highland Prep in 3A-2. On the girls side, defending state champion Lake Mary is No 1 in 7A, Region 1, as is Lake Nona in 7A-2; Oviedo in 6A-2, Bishop Moore in 4A-2, and Montverde in 3A-2.
Montverde edges Lake Mary 1-0 in clash of girls soccer powers
Two of the state’s best girls teams, Lake Highland Prep and Montverde Academy, were among many that weathered the cold in district finals last Tuesday. Montverde (16-1-1), No. 1 in Class 3A and No. 2 overall in the FHSAA power rankings, defeated the Highlanders 3-0 in a district final that had temperatures near 40 degrees at game time. Lake Highland (5-3-3) enters the regionals as the No. 8 team in Class 3A.
Montverde coach Robbie Aristodemo found some heaters in a storage area and was able to put them to use for both teams.
“He owes us big time for that,” Aristodemo said laughingly, referring to LHP coach Jeremy Christie.
“I don’t know how much they were able to help. Once the players are on the field it’s really just for the girls that are sitting on the bench,” Aristodemo said.
Christie, who did appreciate the heaters on his sideline, said most of his girls wore long-sleeve shirts under regular jerseys. But many took the shirts off as they got accustomed to the chill.
“These Florida kids are definitely not used to it,” Christie said. “It’s difficult and we’re wrapping up warm. But once the girls are out on the field, running around, I think they’re fine.
Aristodemo didn’t think the cold deterred his team’s mental preparation vs. LHP, but said it could impact games moving forward.
“I think sometimes with outdoor sports it can be challenging,” Aristodemo said. “Like if you are a higher seed and you have frigid temperatures or bad winds or really poor field conditions it always benefits the lower seed because you can’t really impose the style of play you want to play.
“Sometimes the game could be closer than it would be if it were regular conditions, but ultimately, both teams are in those same circumstances, so we try not to use it as an excuse.”
As Christie said, “Yeah, it’s cold. Can’t do anything about it, so just get on with it. We have a pretty good mentality in that regard.”
Lake Highland Prep senior Lael Hill, the Sentinel’s girls soccer player of the year last season, leads the Highlanders into the state’s regional quarterfinals on Monday. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
Lake Highland and Montverde have developed a bit of a rivalry. They played three times last season, with Montverde winning the first two matches. The Highlanders flipped the switch and won the all-important region final on their way to a state runner-up finish.
“We know we are probably going to see them again in a few weeks,” Christie said. “Montverde is always that big monster in the way and we got over the hump last year for the first time so we certainly have that confidence from that. We’ve had a little bit of a rebuild this year so we’re probably not as deep as we were last year.”
Bishop Moore (16-2-6), a state semifinalist a year ago, leads the way among local boys team entrants as the No. 1 team in 4A, according to the FHSAA power rankings.
In Class 7A, No. 5 West Orange (11-3-2) and No. 8 Windermere (14-1-5) are the top locals, while Olympia (14-2-2) is No. 11, Lake Mary (11-3-2) is 12th, Ocoee (11-3-4) is 14th, Freedom (10-3-2) is 15th and Winter Park (13-4-2) is 18th.
Windermere boys soccer rolling as district play approaches
Oviedo (8-3-3) is No. 17 in 6A; Innovation (15-2-1) is 13th in 5A, and Mount Dora (15-2-1) is 14th in 4A.
Lake Highland Prep (11-2-1), a state finalist a year ago, is No. 3 in 3A; Windermere Prep (12-2-2) is No. 16 in 2A and The Master’s Academy (13-1-2) is No. 19. Orangewood Christian (3-5-4) is No. 8 in 1A.
Among the girls entrants, defending state champion Lake Mary (13-2-1) is the No. 1-ranked team in 7A. Also in 7A, West Orange (11-2-1) is No. 5, Lake Brantley (12-2-1) is No. 8, Lake Nona (9-3-2) is No. 10, Winter Park (6-3-2) No. 12, and Timber Creek (8-4-1) No. 13.
Oviedo’s girls (13-1-1) are ranked No. 4 in 6A and Lake Minneola (12-1-3) is No. 20. Innovation (7-6) is No. 13 in 5A.
Bishop Moore (3-6-5), a state finalist a year ago, has played an extremely difficult schedule this season, and the Hornets are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, while Mount Dora (11-2-4) is No. 16. The First Academy (7-2-1) is No. 13 in 2A, and Mount Dora Christian Academy (10-3-2) is No. 8 in 1A.
Boys play could be a wide-open if district competition is any indication. Seven No. 1 seeds lost in district play. The biggest surprise was probably No. 4-seeded The First Academy knocking off No. 1 Windermere Prep in a 2A District 6 semifinal. The Royals (7-5-2) then won the district final on penalty kicks against second seed Cornerstone Charter.
Fourth seed Hagerty beat top seed Winter Park in a 7A District 4 semifinal and No. 3 Lyman defeated No. 1 Oviedo in the 6A-5 final.
Regional Soccer Pairings
Boys Local Quarterfinals Schedule (with region seeds)
Class 7A
(All games Friday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 Timber Creek at No. 1 Creekside
No. 4 Ocoee at No. 5 Seminole
No. 7 Sandalwood at No. 2 West Orange
No. 6 Spruce Creek at No. 3 Lake Mary
Region 2
No. 8 Harmony at No. 1 Windermere
No. 5 Freedom at No. 4 Lake Nona
No. 7 Centennial at No. 2 Jupiter
No. 6 Orlando Cypress Creek at No. 3 Olympia
Class 6A
(All games Friday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 South Lake at No. 1 Niceville
No. 5 Buchholz at No. 4 Tate
No. 7 Nease at No. 2 Bartram Trail
No. 6 Tocoi Creek at No. 3 Mandarin
Region 2
No. 8 Lyman at No. 1 Viera
No. 5 Oviedo at No. 4 Land O’ Lakes
No. 7 Lake Gibson at No. 2 Sunlake
No. 6 Wiregrass Ranch at No. 3 Melbourne
Class 5A
(All games Friday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek at No. 1 New Smyrna Beach
No. 5 Kissimmee Gateway at No. 4 Auburndale
No. 7 Seabreeze at No. 2 Innovation
No. 6 Springstead at No. 3 River Ridge
Class 4A
(All games Friday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Eau Gallie at No. 1 Bishop Moore
No. 5 Lake Wales at No. 4 Satellite
No. 7 Eustis at No. 2 Merritt Island
No. 6 Nature Coast Tech at No. 3 Mount Dora
Class 3A
(All games Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Dunedin at No. 1 Lake Highland Prep
No. 4 Tampa Catholic at No. 5 Cocoa Beach
No. 7 Astronaut at No. 2 Calvary Christian
No. 6 Angeline Academy at No. 3 McKeel Academy
Class 2A
(All games Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 The First Academy at No. 1 Holy Trinity Epicopal
No. 5 Benjamin at No. 4 Windermere Prep
No. 7 West Shore at No. 2 King’s Academy
No. 6 Trinity Prep at No. 3 The Master’s Academy
Class 1A
(All games Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 Mount Dora Christian at No. 1 University Christian
No. 5 Oak Hall at No. 4 St. Joseph’s Academy
No. 7 Community Christian at No. 2 Rocky Bayou Christian
No. 6 Academy at the Lakes at No. 3 Redeemer Christian
Girls Local Quarterfinals Schedule (with region seeds)
Class 7A
(All games Thursday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 Seminole at No. 1 Lake Mary
No. 5 Timber Creek at No. 4 Lake Brantley
No. 7 Flagler Palm Coast at No. 2 Creekside
No. 6 Winter Park at No. 3 West Orange
Region 2
No. 8 Olympia at No. 1 Lake Nona
No. 4 Harmony at No. 5 Harmony
No. 7 East Ridge at No. 2 Jupiter
No. 6 Vero Beach at No 3 Celebration
Class 6A
(All games Thursday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 Navarre at No. 1 Niceville
No. 5 Tocoi Creek at No. 4 Nease
No. 7 Lake Minneola at No. 2 Bartram Trail
No. 6 Mandarin at No. 3 Pace
Region 2
No. 8 Bloomingdale at No. 1 Oviedo
No. 5 Melbourne at No. 5 Sunlake
No. 7 Wharton at No. 2 Viera
No. 6 Land O’ Lakes at No. 3 Steinbrenner
Class 5A
(All games Thursday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No 8 Springstead at No. 1 Auburndale
No. 5 Seabreeze at No. 4 Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek
No. 7 Gainesville at No. 2 Innovation
No. 6 River Ridge at No. 3 New Smyrna Beach
Class 4A
(All games Thursday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Hernando at No. 1 Bishop Moore
No. 5 Merritt Island at No. 4 Mount Dora
No. 7 Rockledge at No. 2 Nature Coast Tech
No. 6 Lake Wales at No. 3 Satellite
Class 3A
(All games Monday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Astronaut at No. 1 Montverde Academy
No. 5 Tampa Catholic at No. 4 Calvary Christian
No 7 The Villages Charter at No. 2 Lake Highland Prep
No. 6 Academy of the Holy Names at No. 3 McKeel Academy
Class 2A
(All games Monday, 7 p.m.)
Region 2
No. 8 Windermere Prep at No. 1 King’s Academy
No. 5 Melbourne Central Catolic at No. 4 Holy Trinity Episcopal
No. 7 Trinity Prep at No. 2 West Shore
No. 6 The First Academy at No. 3 Edgewood
Class 1A
(All games Monday, 7 p.m.)
Region 1
No. 8 St. Paul II at No. 1 St. John’s Country Day
No. 5 Christ’s Church Academy at No. 4 Rockey Bayou Christian
No. 7 Academy at the Lakes at Bo. 2 Mount Dora Christian
No. 6 Oak Hall at No. 3 St. Joseph Academy
Region 2
No. 8 Orangewood Christian at No. 1 All Saints Academy
No. 4 The Master’s Academy at No. 5 Seffner Christian
No. 7 Geneva at No. 2 Pine School
No. 6 St. Edwards at No. 3 Victory Christian
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.