Boys charge into final four

LAKEWOOD RANCH — For the past three months, the Clearwater Chargers at Lakewood Ranch U16 boys team has taken the role of the underdog to new heights. With a brand of soccer entirely its own, the team has developed from an average team to one of the four in the state.

This season, the Chargers’ motto has remained the same: Why not us? Now, the team hopes to carry that same mentality into the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup Final Four May 19-20, in Auburndale. The Chargers will play Jacksonville United in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to face the winner of the semifinal between West Florida Premier and A1SAA Soccer Academy of the Americas Real Madrid.

“Our goal all along was to advance beyond the first round, so it was a huge success for us to get to the (Sweet) 16,” coach Geoff Womeldorph said.

The team advanced to the Final Four after defeating Boca United 1-0 in penalty kicks. With the game scoreless after double overtime, goalkeeper Ian Crawford saved Boca United’s first penalty kick attempt. Stephen Mack, Ramon Elliott, Miguel Rebollo, Erik Kreider and Ryan Sollazzo each scored a penalty kick to preserve the win for the Chargers.

“At first, I couldn’t quite believe it,” 16-year-old goalkeeper J.J. Byrnes said. “We worked so hard to get here.”
The players, some of which previously played at the Braden River Soccer Club, the Charlotte County Soccer Federation and Venice Area Youth Soccer, among others, represent eight different area high schools and a variety of cultural backgrounds. But on the field, they unite.

“Not every team has that kind of togetherness,” Braden River’s Jared Bieber said. “It makes us really hard to beat.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].