- April 18, 2024
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FPC's Savannah O'Grady (14) gets set for a free kick in the second half against Oakleaf. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Emma Swearingen (10) controls the ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC girls soccer coach Pete Hald ticked off some highlights from the 2021-22 season. The one highlight missing from his shortlist was a personal milestone.
On Dec. 9, the Bulldogs defeated Matanzas 8-0 for Hald’s 500th victory in his 31st season as the team’s head coach.
There were other highlights. The Bulldogs defeated national powerhouse St. Johns Country Day 2-1 on Dec. 3, snapping the Spartans’ 44-game winning streak. They beat rival Matanzas twice. And they finished with a winning record (11-9-1) despite a slew of injuries and having a young team that loses just three seniors.
Still, the final game of the season stung. Oakleaf blanked FPC 1-0 in a District 1-7A quarterfinal Jan. 26 at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.
The loss snapped the Bulldogs’ streak of playing in 19 consecutive district finals.
But that would have been a difficult run to continue this year — more difficult even than upsetting SJCD. Oakleaf’s reward for eliminating the Bulldogs was facing two-time defending state champ Bartram Trail (15-0) in the district semifinals.
The Bulldogs were playing without four starters, including top player Jada Williams, against Oakleaf, but Hald wasn’t looking for excuses.
“We’re here to win the big game,” said Hald, who’s won his share over the past three decades.
Juliann Saroca gave the Knights (7-3-3) a 1-0 lead with a free-kick goal in the first half.
FPC had a chance to tie late in the second half when Savannah O’Grady’s free kick was just high.
“Our free kick that missed was exactly how they scored,” Hald said. “They beat us in the middle of the field, but we had enough chances to at least tie the game.”
Hald will enter his 32nd season with 505 victories.
