'A very big high': West Florida boys soccer advances to district semifinals with shutout

It’s safe to say the West Florida boys soccer team hit a bit of a rough patch at the end of the regular season.

Prior to Thursday, the Jaguars hadn’t won in 2024. They played against some stiff competition, including top-ranked teams such as Gulf Breeze, Arnold and Booker T. Washington. Head coach Matthew Vann noted there were some injuries and other suspensions that kept his team from being 100%.

But second-seeded West Florida flipped a script on Thursday, defeating No. 7 Pensacola, 5-0, in the District 1-4A quarterfinals.

After a “stressful” first half where the Jaguars only scored one goal, they produced an offensive onslaught in the second frame to ensure victory. Just seven minutes into the frame, Tyrin Joiner had a nice little spin move around his defender and then fired a shot into the back of the net.

Joiner got in on the third goal of the game as well, crossing it to Dakota Vann who tipped it to Ben Hammond right in front of the net. Hammond finished off the tic-tac-toe play.

After a Pensacola own goal in which Joiner booted a shot on net but the Tigers’ defender slid into the ball and knock it in himself, Maddox Salvadora rounded out the scoring after forcing a turnover near the goal and hitting an essentially open net.

“That’s a game I think we should win if we’re clicking on all cylinders,” Vann said. “(We were) clinical in the finishing third (in the second half), and kept the ball a bit more in the midfield. … When we have enough time to slow down and really keep the ball at midfield, it gives our wingers time to get into the dangerous areas of the field, and it opens things up.”

West Florida goalkeeper Cole Willis posted his first shutout since Dec. 16 in a scoreless tie at South Walton. The only winning shutout the Jaguars have posted before Thursday was an 8-0 win against Walton on Nov. 16, in which Willis and junior Colton Hess split time.

Pensacola head coach Steven Nolen declined a post-game interview. The Tigers finish their season with a 4-7-2 overall record.

West Florida (7-9-2) moves on to the semifinals, scheduled for Saturday. The Jaguars will host No. 3 South Walton. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“We feel like we can win and should win this district. We feel like we’re the best team. We feel like our record is not reflective of the team that we are,” Vann said. “We’ve had a tough go with some suspensions and injuries. We’re on a very big high right now.”

“We have our players back. We have fresh heads. We’re all together as a team,” Joiner said. “We feel we can win this district.”

Here are two takeaways from the game.

Remain calm

Vann believes he has some of the top midfielders and forwards in the area. So when his trio of midfielders – a couple in which still aren’t fully healthy, but are able to still make an impact for the Jaguars – have possession, West Florida becomes a dangerous team.

When the Jaguars can hold onto the ball, that’s when some of their speedy forwards – such as Joiner – can attack.

“We want to hold the ball enough to let them create that space, then release them. Tyrion, in my opinion, is one of the most undeniable players in town,” Vann said. “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached. He’s just got that dog in him.”

The biggest difference in the second half, according to Joiner, was that the Jaguars started to find the “penetrating pass” in the offensive third of the field. There were several times West Florida forwards quickly passed around Pensacola to create their own space for a shot on goal.

“We weren’t as selfish. And we found the back of the net,” Joiner said.

Joiner’s speed puts him above the rest. He sped past a few defenders, including during that second goal where he was able to get the low cross off that led to Hammond’s goal. And the weather and wet ground was just an aid.

“I pride myself on my speed. I think that comes from natural ability, to be honest. I mostly train my skills. I think the speed is natural,” Joiner said. “I like slipping and sliding. If the goalkeeper gets on the ground, it’s harder for them with ground passes. So I like this weather.”

The Jaguars’ five goals is the most they’ve scored in a game since the 7-4 loss to Tate on Jan. 10. The last time they won by more than one goal was that shutout against Walton. West Florida has only won by more than one goal now three times, adding in the 3-1 win against Crestview which started the Jaguars’ season on Nov. 6.

“When you’re not scoring many goals, it comes down to the offense,” Joiner said. “But in a game like this where you pop out a bit, especially in the second half when you can score some goals against an amazing goalkeeper in (Pensacola goalkeeper) Jaden (Fernandez), it feels really good.”

‘Pretty savage in the defensive third’

Willis didn’t have too many difficult saves to make in the game against Pensacola. But he still had to stay focused. With the wet conditions, longer shots from the Tigers – coming from upward of 30 to 35 yards out – can sometimes cause problems.

On low shots, the ball might skip off the ground a little weirdly. Shots that come out of the air, the wind might come into play. Either way, Willis said a goalkeeper just has to make sure they square up to the ball and “don’t let it go through your hands.”

But it “really comes down to the defense,” Willis added.

“If they step up to the ball, there’s no shot being taken,” he said. “So I don’t have to worry about it.”

Vann said that Thursday’s game was one he felt the Jaguars “should keep a shutout in.” Not only did Willis play a big part in that, but having all four top defenders back – including Grey Griffin, Gunnar Brown, Reynaldo Portugal and David Sabata – was essentially icing on the cake.

After shifting players around throughout the year, Vann noted he found his “solid back four.”

“And they showed tonight what they’re capable of,” Vann said. “We didn’t have turnovers tonight, really. We kept the ball. We were patient. And we were pretty savage in the defending third (of the field). I couldn’t ask for more, other than I would’ve liked more goals in the first half.”

Vann lauded the focus of Willis throughout the conditions, and also noted he helps propel the offense. Willis is also the punter for the West Florida football team, and that helps his accuracy and strength on goal kicks and punts from the goal box.

“Cole is a weapon into our offense,” Vann said. “He has tons of distance. He wants to be an assist-maker every time, but I’m just like, ‘Let’s just get it up there.’ … He’s one of the better goalkeepers in town this year.”

“Hopefully we get some chances off of it in the postseason and helps us down the road,” Willis said of his kicks. “This big win right here, it’s helping our confidence a lot.”

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: West Florida boys soccer beats Pensacola in District 1-4A tournament