High School Boys Soccer: Tate clamps down on West Florida to extend unbeaten streak

Tate's start to the 2022-23 boys season soccer was less than ideal.

Through their first four matches, the Aggies allowed six goals, which is two more than they relinquished during the entire 2021-22 regular season. Their record stood at 2-2 following a 3-1 loss to West Florida on Nov. 17.

Since that defeat, Tate has found its form, going unbeaten leading into Thursday's rematch with Jaguars.

The Aggies cracked the scoreboard in the third minute and played strong enough defense to make that goal stand. Tate extended its unbeaten streak to six following a 1-0 win over West Florida from Escambia County Stadium at Ashton Brosnaham Park.

"We played pretty well," Aggies head coach Nic Cardoso said. "We're a team that can defend really well and we're really good on counters. That's our strength and that's what we rely upon. That was the game plan and it worked beautifully."

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Ethan Sanz buried the match's only score. Following a handball in the 18-yard box, the senior midfielder whistled a penalty shot past junior goalkeeper Cole Willis.

From there, the Jaguars controlled possession and created the majority of the scoring chances, including three terrific opportunities to equalize in the first half.

After sophomore Gunnar Brown sent a ball into the box, senior Viktor Tran could not convert with a back-heel attempt. The ball remained loose, but a shot from sophomore Tyrin Joiner was deflected just wide.

Moments later, senior Noah Vegas saw his one-timer float to the left of the net while junior Jackson Clarke suffered the same fate minutes before halftime on a shot off a volley.

With two minutes remaining in the match, a West Florida cross into the box appeared to deflect off the arm of an Aggies defender, but a penalty was not called.

The loss snapped the Jaguars' three-match winning streak.

"We have to figure out how to score goals," West Florida head coach Mason Clarke said. "It sounds trite being that's how you win soccer games, but I felt like we probably had the ball 75 percent of the time. And to come away with zero goals, we got to figure out how to stop that. When we got an early one or when we get the first goal, we normally win this year. So we got to do a better job of either getting one early or responding when the other team scores first."

Tate improved its record to 6-2-2 while the Jags fell to 8-4.

Here are three takeaways from Tate's victory.

It's about the process, not the results

While the Jaguars controlled possession and put up most of the shots, the visitors were unable to penetrate the Aggies backline of senior defenders Jace Fryman, Kyle Cagle and Levi Penfold. The trio made critical tackles and often intercepted attempted through passes to a West Florida player streaking on a run.

The defense received additional support on the wings from freshman defender Alex Espinosa and sophomore Justin Bolden, who started the match at forward before transitioning to the back in the second half.

"We play five in the back and the wingers push up and they help us create and build as well. The midfielders didn't have any separation from the defenders whatsoever," Cardoso said. "Their transition back was tremendous and efforts from side to side was great, so we gave them very little space. It's kind of hard to create against a team that defends as well as we did tonight."

Tate's defense has turned it up a notch during its unbeaten stretch.

The team has given up five goals during those six matches, which includes a pair of shutouts. The only opponent within that time that has put multiple goals in the back of the net is Arnold, a two-time defending state champion. That result ended in a 2-2 draw.

"I definitely think we're starting to perform better. I don't tend to focus on the results alone; sometimes the results can be a little tricky, especially at the high school ages. The results can hide a whole lot of mistakes. ... We're becoming what I thought we'd be in the beginning: a great defensive team that's really great on counters."

'I trust myself and trust my teammates'

With West Florida struggling to penetrate through the center of the backline, the road team often opted to attack from above with multiple long balls into the box.

That's when goalkeeper Edward O'Brien stepped up, alertly snagging every ball before it became dangerous.

The junior's best save came in the 48th minute after Jaguars junior Cody Carmody was fouled just outside the box. Hayden Olsen fired the ensuing free kick toward goal, but O'Brien made the initial stop before corralling the rebound.

"I trust myself and trust my teammates, they helped me and covered my back a lot," O'Brien said. "They make me feel comfortable and help me gain confidence to make those saves. They prevented a lot from coming through to me."

In his first year as the starting keeper, O'Brien has major shoes to fill after replacing PNJ All-Area First Teamer Zac Clary, who recorded 11 clean sheets with 52 saves, two saves on penalty kicks and a .440 goals-against average last season.

However, the junior has prepared and is ready for the opportunity.

"I'm very confident.," O'Brien said. "I trust in my team, I trust in myself, I trust in my training, with all the training I've gotten over the summer and over the season. I trust in my teammates to help me out, cover me whenever I need it and we play as a team."

Injuries obstacles

While Tate came away with the victory, the team did not leave the field unscathed.

Aggies leading scorer Caleb Wise went down with a leg injury just before halftime. The senior striker attempted to play through the injury, but was replaced early in the second half.

Bolden also suffered a lower-body injury. He remained in the match, but hobbled off the pitch in pain with five minutes left.

It's unclear if the two forwards were simply banged up or are hurt enough to miss time.

"Those are our two top forwards," Cardoso said. "We don't have replacements with the same characteristics as those guys that can really turn, crank and go. ... "The two forwards that we have, if they're healed up, we can really be offensive threats to other teams. If they are not there, we're going to have to reinvent ourselves a little bit and change the way we play."

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Boys Soccer: Tate strikes early, makes it stand in win over West Florida