On Saturday, Nov 15th, the boys varsity soccer played against Deerfield Beach High School at Sean Taylor ‘01 Memorial Field. The Raiders entered the matchup undefeated at 3–0, while Deerfield came in with a 2–2 record. The game held added weight as part of the South Florida Champions League, where each win contributes toward qualifying for the championship match.
“Every win is equal to three points, with each team playing three games in the qualifying round,” junior left back Lennox Millstein said. “The top six teams move on to the next round.”
The game opened as a defensive battle, with both teams trying to exploit gaps in each others formation. The Raiders controlled possession for most of the match, allowing them to apply pressure on Deerfield’s back line. Defensively, junior goalkeeper Jose Baez showed poise and leadership, while senior center back Driss Tardieu anchored the back line with strong clearances through the first half.
“ You aren’t going to win the game off one person,” junior centerback Santiago Mendoza said. “That is why we rely on our formation so much, it plays to all of the 11 men’s strengths.”
Offensively, the Raiders demonstrated the depth that has made the program nationally recognized. The first goal came in the 39th minute from sophomore Benji Pesce, who scored off the bench. It marked his first varsity goal and his second overall in the program.
“It felt amazing to score my first varsity goal,” sophomore midfielder Benji Pesce said.“ Being able to play a role in an important win means a lot to me.”
Deerfield tied the match early in the second half following a miscommunication in the Raiders’ back line. Still, the Raiders remained composed, continuing to dominate possession and apply pressure throughout the half. Finally, in the 89th minute, with less than two minutes remaining, senior forward Gabriel Drezrich delivered the game-winning goal, securing a dramatic 2–1 victory.
The win brought the Raiders one step closer to the South Florida Champions League final and improved their overall record to 4–0.
