Green Wave rally to tie Seahawks 1-1
The stretch run to the postseason started Tuesday night for the Cape Coral Seahawks boys’ soccer team.
That stretch run began with a bit of frustration as Fort Myers rallied late in the match for a 1-1 tie at Dave Warkentin Stadium. Still, Seahawks coach Paolo Acosta wasn’t all that disappointed.
“You could tell, a lot of heavy legs,” Acosta said of both teams coming off a two-week holiday break. “Both teams. That was definitely a challenge from the break. That was another thing we were working against, but at least it’s not a loss.
“Fort Myers, since I was playing here, they’ve always been a team with a lot of tenacity,” Acosta added. “They haven’t changed their style. Their coach (Carl Sousa) is still there so they still play with the same philosophy where they get in our faces, and that’s what we expect. That’s what we look forward to because that’s what’s going to challenge us.”
Cape Coral (11-2-3) took a 1-0 lead on junior Gianni Cognata’s goal from the right sideline into the left corner of the Green Wave net. That goal, with about 23 minutes to play in the first half, stood for most of the match. The goal was Cognata’s team-leading 11th of the season.
Fort Myers applied increasing pressure in the second half, resulting in Adam Everett’s goal with a little over six minutes left in the game.
“We talked a little bit at the half about slowing it down,” Sousa said, “making them play us on the ball instead of just going over the top. We made a change up top and put in a ball-handler. Our top forward is hurt, he’s not here. So we had to shuffle a little bit. But yeah, we hung in until we got it. It was a good shot, well-placed. What are you going to say? It worked.”
That goal gave the Green Wave a tie and prevented the Seahawks from sweeping the season series. Cape earned a 1-0 victory at Fort Myers in November.
Tuesday’s Senior Night contest was the last home match for the Seahawks – of the regular season, anyway. The Seahawks are the host team for the District 3A-13 tournament, which begins Jan. 21.
Cape (5-0-1) in 3A-13,has its final district game of the season on Friday at Lemon Bay, but already is assured of the tournament’s top seed.
There is one more match on the schedule, a trip to Fort Lauderdale a week from Friday to face St. Thomas Aquinas.
“We’ve already gone through Vero Beach, a tough game, and Tampa Jesuit,” Acosta said. “All these are state championship-caliber teams. That’s what we’re being tested for. I think it’s a great way to go into the district tournament. It’s going to be exciting.”
Sousa said, “We play Cape Coral twice every year. We have for years. I’ve been doing this since ’92. It’s a nice rivalry. We enjoy playing. They always have quality teams, and it’s always a good experience for both teams.”
Tuesday was the beginning of a late-season grind for the Green Wave (12-5-2).
“We’ve got five tough matches,” Sousa said. “This was the first one. We have four more remaining. We set it up that way,” to prepare for the District 4A-12 tournament.
Fort Myers is at home Friday against Mariner.