That’s it, that’s the post! At 16-0-1, Mandarin is on fire this season and fresh off a championship win. The Mandarin boys soccer team defeated Englewood to win the Gateway Conference championship last week. The match saw both teams play to a 1-1 tie, calling for an extra period. In overtime, Mandarin would win a 4-3 shoot-out securing their third straight conference title.
The Mustangs have been led by Senior Anotnio Mancinotti whose scored 23 goals on the season. Senior Adis Mesic has been right there in the goal department as well scoring19 goals, but leading the team in assists (18) as well.
On defense, Krisitian Palenik has been a force with 30 steals on the season, while Brayden Knox has given up only 5 goals and has 29 saves in 14 games where stats have been tallied.
Mandarin has been impressive in victories with 8 shut-outs in the regular season. Even in close battles against tough teams like Englewood (11-5-1), or Nease (8-3-3), or Fleming Island (10-3-2), the Mustangs have found ways to win.
Only one team has managed to play them to a tie in Bartram Trail (9-2-1), however the Mustangs defeated a common opponent in Fleming Island who bested Bartram 4-1 earlier this year. Proof that even the best in the area have trouble knocking off the Mustangs.
Mandarin completed an undefeated regular season tonight, defeating Paxon (2-9-1) by a score of 8-0 to achieve the ever so elusive unbeaten regular season distinction. No team can say that in Northeast Florida, and only two other teams in class 7A can boast such honors in the entire state.
Now, head coach Jason Cooley and his squad set their sights towards district play, where they’ll hope to keep the momentum going in a quest for a district and state title.
The Mandarin boys soccer team haven’t lost a game. That’s it, that’s the post.
