On to the Finals!

Behind a dynamic second-half performance, Marco Island Academy beat visiting Village School, 5-3, Monday, January 27, to advance to the school's first-ever boys soccer district final on Thursday. 

Freshman Weslyn Villatoro scored a rare hat trick, knocking in three impressive second-half goals to lead the Rays’ charge. Rays coach Fernando Higuera said it’s unusual for a player to turn a hat trick in a semifinal game. 

“He's a really good hitter,” Higuera said, “ We stole the ball from the middle, and then we were able to score."  

Higuera was surprised by the high-scoring second half. 

“A 5-3 game is unusual in a semifinal,” he said, "it's usually closer. Thursday’s final is going to be closer. I don't think it's going to be like this. It's going to be one maybe two goals. I don't think it's going to be more than that. That’s just how finals are. It gets more difficult as you advance.” 

Higuera said he thought his team came out sluggish with perhaps a case of nerves. 

"I think playing on Monday after a long weekend,” he said, "we were clearly not on our best game coming out. We couldn't practice Friday, so I think we started kind of nervous because most of the guys are freshmen. We played well, but we just weren't finishing the play."  

Higuera made changes at halftime with the Rays holding a tenuous 1-0 lead. 

"We were making too many mistake and we were not communicating,” he said. "I think the second half we started out much better,” Higuera said. “We were really good passing the ball and finishing and all that. We had just lost some concentration. I made a few changes with a few players, and I just asked for more intensity. We need to want this. We have to start putting pressure on them. The game’s keys were to apply more pressure and communicate effectively. The players that I moved in, we needed those skills. It's not that I penalized the other ones. It's just that I have players that can go fast, but I need somebody who can pass better. So, I have to take that player out and put somebody in who can pass the ball better. We started playing like a very different team in the second half." 

Higuera said his squad, featuring eight freshmen starters, is ready for FBA - and to make school history. 

"I think we're confident,” Higuera said. "It's a reality now. We’re in the finals. So, I don't want to hear that they’re freshmen. Hopefully, we get the win. That will be amazing for us at the school because we have never had either a girls or guys soccer team win the district. The girls have been to a final before, but they've never won it. FBA is older, they're stronger, so we just need to pass the ball faster. We cannot hold it too long." 

One concern for the Rays is the availability of freshman Raul Antonio-Carrillo, who had to leave the game after a collision in front of the goal. His availability for Thursday’s final is unknown. Higuera watched as Antonio-Carrillo’s father helped his son from the field after the game. 

 “It would be a very, very big loss for us,” he said. "I hope he’s okay.” 

The Rays (8-5-2) host FBA (3-8-3) at 6:00 PM on Thursday, January 30 for the 1A District 12 championship.