Rays Fall in District Final

Marco Island Academy lost 2-1 to First Baptist Academy on Tuesday, January 27 at FBA Stadium.

The Rays held a 1-0 first half lead after freshman Kazim Kasap nailed a sliding 20-yard goal from the right side. FBA came out strong in the second half, scoring twice to take the win. FBA, 12-7-3, advances to the regionals. MIA finishes at 9-5-3.

But on Friday, January 23, the Rays left no doubt about who the best team was, scoring four times in the second half to blank St. John Neumann 4-0 in a district semifinal match played on the Rays’ field.

The second half of Friday’s game can be best described as too much Kazim. Freshman standout Kazim Kasap turned the tide of the game when he scored on a penalty kick at the 36:40 mark of the second half. Kasap went on to figure in all of the Rays’ scores, achieving a hat trick by scoring three goals and assisting on freshman Nikko Lendrihas’ first high school goal with 30:00 left in the second half.

"Kazim had an amazing game,” said Fernando Higuera, Rays coach. "He had three goals. He created the penalty kick and he had the assist for the fourth one."

The scoreless first half could be considered a win for the Celtics (2-13-1). While the Rays appeared to be controlling play throughout the half, they couldn’t score.

“We were playing well,” Higuera said, "we were passing the ball well, but the goals were just not there. But I think we were in control of the game, and we had our chances. It's just we were not lucky with the last touch or the last hit, but the second half, we just started to put it in. And from there it was a good game for us. We played well. We passed the ball well."

Higuera had concerns going into halftime.

“A little bit,” he said. "I just told them we need to have a better aim. We have to score. I was a little bit nervous, but I still felt we had control of the game. But you could sense that it was just a matter of time. And then we did it. We did it right.”

Neumann coach Adam Kozo, a Marco Islander, was understandably disappointed to lose, but congratulates the Rays. Kozo was playing without several starters.

“Look,” Kozo said, "first of all, we have to congratulate the team. They won fair and square. They won 4-0. It's a result. Nobody's gonna question on their side. On our side? We came a little bit shorthanded today. For 40 minutes, we were in the game and the second half was like, everything turned against us a little. Mistakes. They got two goals, and then after that it was over. That's pretty much it. But, you know, we wish them the best.”