After 30 goals in his senior season in Mandarin orange and green, Robert Calazans made No. 31 one of his best.
And the most important.
“I just kept a cool mind,” he said. “I just knew I was going to get a ball through.”
Calazans struck the net twice, including the game-winner in the 63rd minute, to overcome host Bartram Trail 3-2 in an intense Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-6A boys soccer semifinal on Feb. 12.
Jacksonville’s leading scorer on the regular season, Calazans surged through the left of midfield, then drove a low shot off the far post and into the net to decide an all-Northeast Florida matchup turned into an 80-minute battle.
Bartram Trail (12-4-3) twice clawed back from deficits, tying the score in each half on goals from Aiden Dolaher and Caleb Smith, and appealed unsuccessfully for a call after Smith went down on a breakaway under pressure from Mandarin goalkeeper Luxiah Beard.
But Mandarin (14-4-2), which has gradually rediscovered an attacking rhythm after the early University of North Florida enrollment of striker Emir Trto, kept fighting to reach the familiar territory of the regional final.
Yadiel Rosario scored first for the Mustangs in the 18th minute, and after the Bears equalized 41 seconds later, Calazans scored his first of the night to restore the Mandarin edge.
Last year, Mandarin fell one step short in the title game against New Port Richey Mitchell. This time, they’ll have one more home game on Feb. 17, facing eighth-seeded Clermont South Lake for a spot in the final four.
“We got a second chance at it,” Calazans said. “Let’s go win it all.”
REGION 1-7A
With goals from Gabriel Heuvel and Konstantino Brown, Sanford Seminole (11-4-4) broke a late tie with five minutes to go and ended Creekside’s season on home turf, 2-1. The Knights end at 15-4-2.
REGION 1-5A
Davi Martins netted a hat trick and Beachside stormed on to the final eight, winning 4-1 on its home field against Choctawhatchee (12-6-2).
Martins, now up to 25 goals, broke the tie after halftime as Beachside scored three second-half goals. Jamaarie Alcide had evened the score for Choctaw before receiving a second-half red card.
Santiago Suarez also scored for the Barracudas (16-2-2), who next play at home on Feb. 17 against No. 8 seed Pensacola Washington.
REGION 1-4A
Wakulla (15-6-2) came from behind to defeat Bishop Kenny 3-2 in the Big Bend. Christopher Leneave scored twice off Cooper Revenaugh assists for the Crusaders (13-3-3).
(This story has been updated to add new information and to add a photo or video.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Robert Calazans’ heroics lift Mandarin boys soccer past Bartram Trail
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
