(This story has been updated to add new information.)
In year number four, Beachside boys soccer is now one game away from No. 1 in the Sunshine State.
The Barracudas, in their first-ever semifinal, battled to a 4-0 win over undermanned New Port Richey River Ridge in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A boys soccer final four on Feb. 27.
Everett Grass, Davi Martins, Elian Borsellino and Braxton Fleming scored for Beachside (18-2-2), only in its fourth year of existence and now headed for a 7 p.m. Feb. 28 championship game against Pembroke Pines Charter at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. Pembroke Pines Charter eliminated Tampa Jesuit, which was No. 5 in the national MaxPreps ranking, in a penalty kick shootout.
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Senior Santiago Suarez commanded the midfield as the Barracudas kept their cool through a chippy game, while River Ridge ended with nine players after red cards to Gabe Gautier in the 33rd minute and Altin Murati in the 75th minute for incidents during dead balls.
Sophomore midfielder Grass notched the Barracudas’ first-ever final four goal in the 18th minute with a low drive that glanced off the fingertips of Royal Knights goalkeeper Peyton Medina and in.
After a tense start to the second half, when the Royal Knights (17-4-1) twice failed to convert opportunities from point-blank range, Beachside pulled clear.
Leading scorer Martins finished off his 27th goal from close range and both Borsellino and Fleming converted precise passes from Suarez to put the game away in the final 10 minutes.
Beachside keeper Brian Garland earned the shutout, repeatedly cutting off River Ridge deliveries into the penalty area and denying a hard first-half shot by striker Marko Maric.
The Barracudas are attempting to become Northeast Florida’s first FHSAA champion in boys soccer since Fleming Island in 2017.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Beachside boys soccer rolls past River Ridge in FHSAA semifinal
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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