Mustangs capture No. 1 seed

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Statistically, this season hasn’t gone according to plan for midfielder Joel Ferguson.

Ferguson only has four goals through 22 games this season. But rather than letting his disappointment consume him, the junior captain has learned to rely on his teammates to help carry some of the offensive load.

“It helps knowing the guys are around to pick up where I’m slacking,” Ferguson said. “We’re playing more like a team this year than we ever have before. We’re strong front to back.”

After opening the season with a pair of losses to Manatee and St. Stephen’s and a 3-3 tie against Sarasota, the Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team has won 16 of its last 19 games, including finishing a perfect 6-0 in the district — marking the first time the Mustangs have finished the district season undefeated.

Most recently, the team defeated rival Braden River 3-1 Jan. 13 and tied Riverview 1-1 Jan. 17, improving its record to 16-3-3. Marco Padilla, Jason Ferguson and Tyler Norris all scored in the Mustangs win over the Pirates. Joel Ferguson scored in the final two minutes at Riverview.

“It’s been amazing for me,” coach Vito Bavaro said. “It’s been, ‘This is Our Year,’ and I believe it. We’re playing great; and no matter what formation we’re playing in, we find a way to win.

“It’s been really fun for me,” he said. “When you look in these kids’ eyes, you can see they want to win. We’re just playing great soccer.”

On Jan. 7, Lakewood defeated Dixie Hollins 4-2, wrapping up their undefeated district season while capturing the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A-District 10 tournament in the process.

As a result, the Mustangs will enjoy a first-round bye before hosting either Bayshore or St. Pete Lakewood in a district semifinal match Jan. 27. The winner of the Mustangs district semifinal match will advance to the district finals Jan. 28.

But the Mustangs know that nothing is guaranteed — even if you’re the top seed in the tournament. Last season, the No. 2 seeded Mustangs finished as the district runner-up after a disappointing 4-0 loss to Palmetto, which Lakewood beat during the regular season.

“We just have to play like it’s our last game,” Joel Ferguson said.

Senior goalkeeper Dan Murray agreed.

“They always come out at us,” Murray said of district rivals Braden River and Palmetto. “They always seem to step up their game when they play us.”

After watching the Lakewood girls soccer team advance to the state semifinals last season, the Mustangs have been focused on advancing to the state tournament ever since the season began.

“Our ultimate goal is obviously to get to (states), but right now our (focus) is on smaller goals, taking it game by game and then districts, regionals and states,” Padilla said.

The Mustangs, who were in the midst of a 14-game winning streak before tying Riveview Jan. 17, credit their success this season to their overall depth as a team.

Padilla has led the way for Lakewood offensively with 19 of the Mustangs 59 goals this season. But the players remain confident they’ll be successful no matter who is out on the field.

“Anyone who comes on the field gives 100%,” Padilla said. “We’re very deep. We’re a team.”

“They play for each other,” Bavaro said. “There’s no individual glory. No matter who is coming in off the bench, even if they’re younger, they’re doing their part. They play for me, and I coach for them.

“We rotate five guys and those coming in are just as good if not better than the guys they’re replacing,” he said. “That’s tough for teams to (counteract).”

Additionally, the Mustangs have received a boost defensively from Murray, who already has seven shutouts on the season.

“This is probably my best season,” Murray said. “I started off really bad, but knowing I’m a senior this year — I knew I needed to step my game up. This is my last year, and I just want to do my best all of the time.”
Lakewood now will turn its attention to next week’s district tournament,pal as it prepares for what it hopes will be another district title run.

“We just need to do what we’ve been doing and play the way that we’ve been playing,” senior captain Seth Browning said.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].