Boca Raton soccer teams get state-title split, with boys finishing second undefeated season in four years

Boca Raton finished undefeated for a second time in four years as it defeated Winter Gardens West Orange 2-1 for the Class 7A boys state soccer championship late Saturday night.

The Bobcats (24-0-2) won its fifth state championship in school history and fourth under the direction of coach Marcelo Castillo. The 2020 team finished undefeated at 28-0, outscoring the opposition 107-3. This year’s squad outscored its opponents 97-10.

Boca Raton junior goalkeeper Carmine Ricciardi was stellar in goal with 15 saves, including four acrobatic ones in the closing minutes to hold off a frenetic charge by the Warriors, who are now 0-3 in state title games since 2013. They lost to Cypress Bay in 2013 and 2015.

“It was the best keeper performance I have ever seen, at any level, and that is meant as a 100 percent compliment to Carmine,” Castillo said. “I mean no disrespect to the other goalkeepers who have played for me, including Derek Santos, who was my first All-American in 2005 and on my staff. He was at the top of the food chain.

“Keepers are sometimes the unsung heroes,” Castillo said. “They are sometimes the scapegoats. Today he kept us in the game…he kept us alive, and he is the main reason today that we are able to put star number five on our uniforms next year.”

Castillo believed his team could have won last year’s state title, but had to face Viera in the state semifinals with six players suspended from an altercation following the regional final against Celebration.

“Today, I felt like it was destiny,” he said. “But at the same time when you take anything for granted, that’s when things get taken from you…they got an incredible 2-0 lead, got scored on, and battled like their life depended on it and it was a great final.”

In an understatement, Ricciardi thought he “played pretty well.”

“It’s all a credit to what we do in practice every day,” Ricciardi said. “Coast Castillo and my goalkeeper coach Derek for having us out there all day. It all paid off.

“I kept thinking, ‘don’t get scored on,” Ricciardi added. “I knew if they didn’t score, we’d win. Obviously, they did, but it wasn’t enough.”

Senior midfielder Bryan Silva gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead when he headed the ball past the West Orange goalkeeper off a free kick from senior Christian Gonzalez.

Five minutes later, the Bobcats, ranked 33rd in the country and sixth in Class 7A by MaxPreps, doubled the lead to 2-0 on a goal by sophomore Cesar Patrullo off a rebound on a shot from distance by Gonzalez.

West Orange (14-5-1), ranked 18th in the nation, pushed hard in the second half and pulled to within 2-1 in the 74th minute after a long free kick into the box and two headers finally beat Ricciardi.

It appeared the Warriors had tied the match two minutes later when a ball was crossed into the area and a West Orange forward and Boca defender both went for the ball after as Ricciardi reached for it against the post. West Orange celebrated as if the ball had crossed the goal line, however, the referees indicated it did not.

“It was very chaotic,” Ricciardi said. “There were a lot of people in the box. I thought I got fouled on that and it didn’t go in. Obviously…that’s what counts. It was definitely a deep breath and we regrouped to make sure nothing like that happens again for the rest of the game. The atmosphere was out of this world.”

Ricciardi made two more stops after that and the Bobcats held on for the victory.

Heartbreak again for Boca Raton girls in state final

St. John’s Creekside freshman Sarah Weisberg curved in a left-footed corner kick in the 48th minute to hand Boca Raton a 2-1 defeat in the Class 7A girls’ state final.

The loss marked the fifth runner-up finish for Boca Raton (18-3-2) who is still chasing its first girls’ state championship. The Bobcats also lost last year’s state final to Bartram Trail.

Boca Raton coach Rachael Grimes said the defeat was difficult, especially with 13 seniors — including seven starters. The Bobcats were also runner-up in 1991, 2010, 2017 and 2023.

“It’s been an incredible two-year run for them,” Grimes said. “Last year, we were just happy to be here and excited after an unexpected season, and this year I thought it was our year. We’re bummed. We are pretty proud of getting to the state championship game two years in a row.

“It’s really pretty unbelievable. In the end, we’re disappointed. It is very rewarding to see where the girls were last year and where they are now. We are still disappointed that we couldn’t finish it.

Boca Raton seized a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on senior Sarah Coelho’s 22nd goal of the year. Senior forward Marino Klemetsmo served a ball toward the goal that senior midfielder Olivia Martinez flicked on with her head toward Coelho, who beat the onrushing Knights goalkeeper one-on-one and found the open net.

In the 21st minute, Creekside tied the contest at 1-1 as senior midfielder Avery Robinson found senior forward Chloe Iliff, who started left and cut back and sent a shot from 18 yards out over Boca Raton senior goalkeeper Kelly White’s head.