Region 1-2A boys soccer: PSJ wins in OT

SANTA ROSA BEACH — As it was huddling in front of the goal for a celebration photo Tuesday, the Port St. Joe boys soccer team hoisted Daniel May high into the air.

It was only fair considering that just moments before the sophomore midfielder carried the visiting Tiger Sharks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over South Walton in the Region 1-2A semifinals with a goal in the last minute of the first overtime.

Jared Arnold made a nice lead pass ahead to a streaking May, who burst into the open for a one-on-one showdown with Jose Agular. The South Walton keeper raced out of the goal to try to stop May, but May had the angle and pushed a shot past the oncoming keeper into the right corner of the net.

A Seahawk defender tried to track down the ball before it reached the goal line, but was too late.

“I actually thought that I had missed it, so I had to watch it all the way into the goal,” May said. “I saw (the play develop) from midfield and it worked out.”

It worked out for Port St. Joe (10-6-2) and ended the season of South Walton (14-2-2). The Seahawks suffered just their second loss of the season after having beaten the Tigers Sharks twice before, including a 3-2 edge in the District 2-2A finals.

“It wasn’t our night tonight,” South Walton coach Danny Blain said. “Like I said, it’s tough to beat somebody three times, especially with a good coach.”

That would be Gary Hindley, a longtime professional soccer coach who has led the Tiger Sharks into the regional finals in his first year with the program.

J Mason Ray converted a pass from Chase Watford in the 12th minute, and it appeared Port St. Joe would make that goal stand up.

Jose Flores had other ideas. In the last minute of regulation, he got an open look around the left side of the box and drilled a shot into the right corner of the goal to force overtime.

“If you don’t do the right things defensively, they’ll punish you and that’s what happened,” Hindley said. “You’re making plans for the bus ride for Friday and, ‘Oh my God, what happened here?’”

With two minutes left in the overtime, Gerardo Gordillo nearly won it for South Walton, but his shot whizzed a foot past the right post. May ended a historic season for the Seahawks a minute later.

“It’s the best season that’s ever been here,” Blaine said. “Obviously the first time they’ve ever won a district championship in 2A. It’s not the way we wanted to end, but what are you going to do?”