AUBURNDALE – Moments after helping his program capture a second consecutive state championship, Cam Omsberg was doused with a bucket of ice water.
But even as the water had yet to dry, the Pine School boys soccer head coach was eagerly looking toward the future.
“I’m already thinking about three in a row,” Omsberg said. “As a coach, it’s hard to sit back and enjoy. You just think about what’s next.”
It’s understandably hard for the Knights not to be excited about the future after coming off arguably the best season in school history. They completed their second undefeated season with a 2-0 victory over Canterbury in the Class 1A state title game on Saturday, Feb. 21 to collect the program’s fourth championship.
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Pine (22-0-2) made history along the way, becoming just the fifth school in the state to win back-to-back state titles twice. The program would enter more rarefied air with a three-peat, as only five other schools have accomplished that feat.
Can Pine win three in a row?
This will be Knights’ second attempt at a three-peat.
James Haffey was part of the first attempt. The defender was a sophomore during the program’s transition season. After helping Pine win state titles 2022 and 2023, he was part of a group that had to replace 15 seniors from the previous season.
Haffey and the rest of the Knights were mired in frustration in 2024. Despite winning a district title, the team was bounced in the regional quarterfinals and finished with a 6-11-1 season. However, after losing just two seniors from the 2024 season and Omsberg taking the helm as head coach, the framework of the next dynasty was in place.
“My sophomore year, we knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, but this has been the crew since then,” Haffey said. “Through the blood, sweat and tears, we built a strong bond together. And it means everything. Our commitment to each other, to the game and what we love, this is our passion. We do it for each other.”
Best season yet?
The Knights successfully reclaimed their crown in 2025 and followed that with an even better 2026 campaign. They finished this past season with shutouts in their last eight matches and didn’t relinquish a goal in 17 of 24 games. They outscored their opponents by a 94-9 margin.
What makes those figures most impressive is that Pine faced the third toughest schedule in all of 1A, according to the FHSAA. The only teams ahead of the Knights in terms of strength of schedule were Sports Leadership & Management and Orangewood Christian, which Pine defeated 2-0 in the regional finals.
Prior to the start of the season, Omsberg admits 15 wins wasn’t realistic in his eyes given his team’s schedule. Once the season ended, the head coach said he hopes to schedule state champions from every classification next season.
“We’ve shown that we can compete with them and we’ve shown that it prepares us exceptionally well for games like this,” Omsberg said.
‘Our whole team sacrifices’
Omsberg called James Haffey a coach on the field and the engine behind Pine’s success.
Following four state titles and captaincy duties over the past three seasons, Haffey will be one of seven seniors gone due to graduation. That group includes Eric LeFort, Caden Kerr, Eduardo Acosta, Carter Hughes and Ethan Murray.
Still, the Knights are expected to remain stacked for the 2026-27 campaign.
Sophomore Jonah Haffey is the anchor of the back three at middle centerback. Omsberg remarks that he’s “the best centerback in Florida.” He plays alongside juniors Gavin DeValerio and Jacob Cornell. DeValerio is lauded for his intelligence while Cornell, an attacking player with excellent defensive skills, thinks a three-peat is well within reach.
“Three in a row? I mean, why not?” Cornell said.
The Knights are also expected to have their three leading scorers in junior Riley Loch, junior Chris Caballero and eighth grader Bodie Mass.
Loch controls play on both sides of the ball from the midfield. Caballero was dynamite with 16 goals in his first season at Pine while Mass led the team in goals (21) and assists (14).
“Bodie is the best player in the country at his age group,” Omsberg said. “Anyone who hasn’t seen him play is probably going to think that’s a crazy statement, anyone who has will know that’s accurate. We’re really fortunate to have him on our team.”
Of course, there is always a chance that the expected returners end up elsewhere, whether that’d be transferring to another school or participating in the MLS Next program.
That was the fate of Charlie Killgore. After scoring the game-winning overtime goal in Pine’s state final win in 2025, Killgore left the program to pursue an opportunity with MLS Next’s Tampa Bay United.
With that said, Pine players know that they have something good going
Just ask Benjamin Blanco.
A resident of Royal Palm Beach, the junior forward scored two goals in the team’s state title win against Canterbury. Although his primary position is at goalkeeper, Blanco plays that field while Hunter Harrington stars in net. It’s one of many adjustments Blanco doesn’t mind making.
“I live an hour away from the school and I sacrifice a lot to be able to be at this amazing school,” Blanco said. “It just means so much because I know our whole team sacrifices so much to be here. Our compatibility is out of this world just because of how long we’ve been playing together.”
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Pine School soccer eyes historic three-peat after undefeated season
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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