Northeast Florida 2022-23 high school boys soccer district tournament previews

Florida High School Athletic Association girls soccer district tournaments begin Wednesday across the Jacksonville area. Schedules are those provided by the FHSAA but are subject to change.

DISTRICT 1-7A

At Mandarin

Schedule: Jan. 26, Sandalwood at Atlantic Coast, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, Creekside vs. Bartram Trail, 5:30 p.m.; Sandalwood-Atlantic Coast winner, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 2, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 Mandarin, No. 2 Bartram Trail, No. 3 Creekside, No. 13 Atlantic Coast, No. 21 Sandalwood.

The top seed: Mandarin. The most explosive attack in Northeast Florida, Mandarin has scored 84 goals in 17 games and hasn't lost all year in spite of waves of injuries. As long as the senior combination of Antonio Mancinotti and Adis Mesic is on target, this Mustangs team could be extending its season through the FHSAA finals in DeLand.

Area bubble team: None. Atlantic Coast and Sandalwood must win the automatic bid to qualify, while both Bartram Trail and Creekside — like Mandarin, legitimate threats to go all the way — are mathematical locks for at-large qualification.

Player to watch: Luke Williams, Bartram Trail. Tall and commanding in the center of the Bears' midfield alongside Dimani Mathlin, Williams is also a major scoring threat on set plays, and when he finds the net — as he did for a pair of hat tricks earlier this month — the results tend to be spectacular.

Northeast Florida 2022-23 high school girls soccer district tournament previews

The Top Five: Northeast Florida high school basketball and soccer power rankings, Jan. 22

GRAY ALERT: Orel Gray, Grayson Howard lead 2022 All-First Coast high school football team

Clash of giants: 3 things we learned from Bishop Kenny-Oakleaf girls basketball

DISTRICT 3-6A

Ponte Vedra's Mark Romano (left) and Fleming Island's Daniel Vizcarrondo challenge for possession during  a high school boys soccer game on December 19, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Ponte Vedra's Mark Romano (left) and Fleming Island's Daniel Vizcarrondo challenge for possession during a high school boys soccer game on December 19, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

At Fletcher

Schedule: Jan. 26, Fletcher at Oakleaf, 7 p.m.; First Coast at Nease, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30, First Coast-Nease winner vs. Ponte Vedra, 5:30 p.m.; Fletcher-Oakleaf winner vs. Fleming Island, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 5 Fleming Island, No. 6 Ponte Vedra, No. 7 Nease, No. 11 Oakleaf, No. 19 Fletcher, No. 21 First Coast.

The top seed: Fleming Island. Few teams in Northeast Florida are as adept in the wide areas as the Golden Eagles, who slice and dice opponents with the combination of Matthew Male and William Kennedy. If that combination keeps working wonders in postseason, Fleming Island could go far, even in a Region 1-6A that's among the deepest in Florida with six of the state's top 27.

Area bubble team: Nease. For now, the Panthers have the edge on Cantonment Tate, Gainesville Buchholz and Ocala Forest in the battle for the last at-large spots, but it's extremely close.

Player to watch: Andres Villasana, Ponte Vedra. The senior tends to play his best when the stakes are the highest, as he showed in the Sharks' playoff run last winter. Constantly racing around the center of the field, he can also score goals, putting nine of them in the net so far in 2022-23.

DISTRICT 2-5A

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 26, Tallahassee Lincoln at Tallahassee Rickards, 7 p.m.; Middleburg at Clay, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28, Lincoln-Rickards winner at Columbia, 7 p.m.; Middleburg-Clay winner at Ridgeview, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 6 Columbia, No. 8 Ridgeview, No. 10 Clay, No. 11 Tallahassee Rickards, No. 13 Tallahassee Lincoln, No. 22 Middleburg.

The top seed: Columbia. The Tigers enter on top of the district but can't take anything for granted in a relatively balanced group of teams. Alonzo Brinson, with seven goals, paces the forward line.

Area bubble team: Ridgeview. Because a team from District 4-5A will also qualify despite their lower ranking, Ridgeview is in fact outside the qualifying berths at the moment. The Panthers likely need to at least reach the district final, and perhaps win it.

Player to watch: Grayson Blake, Tallahassee Lincoln. The Trojans enter with a 3-11-2 record but they've taken on several of the Panhandle's best, and opponents discount their chances at their own risk. Blake's five goals lead the Trojans.

DISTRICT 3-5A

Englewood defender Fabriany Restrepo-Chilito (21) prepares to clear the ball from the box against Mandarin during the Gateway Conference high school boys soccer championship on January 13, 2023. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Englewood defender Fabriany Restrepo-Chilito (21) prepares to clear the ball from the box against Mandarin during the Gateway Conference high school boys soccer championship on January 13, 2023. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 26, Parker at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.; Riverside at Orange Park, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28, Parker-St. Augustine winner at Menendez, 6 p.m.; Riverside-Orange Park winner at Englewood, 6 p.m.; Jan. 30, championship, 6 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 4 Menendez, No. 6 Englewood, No. 13 Orange Park, No. 15 St. Augustine, No. 20 Parker, No. 21 Riverside.

The top seed: Menendez. Steady all year long, the Falcons have earned the top seed with strong overall balance. Senior Will Manaute, at home in a variety of roles, leads Menendez from the back while also venturing upfield to net four goals.

Area bubble team: Englewood. Bubble status might be a stretch: Although they're currently the third at-large team in the region, it would take an unusual combination of events for the Gateway Conference runners-up to miss out. There's high entertainment value with the Rams, lethal on the counter with Zion Wise and Jasmin Ljeskovica in attack.

Player to watch: David Sanchez, Orange Park. Dynamic in attack, the senior has put 12 goals in the net while setting up eight more for an improved Orange Park team.

DISTRICT 2-4A

At Gainesville Eastside

Schedule: Jan. 25, Baker County at Palatka, 6 p.m.; Jan. 27, Santa Fe vs. Eastside, 5 p.m.; Baker County-Palatka winner vs. Suwannee, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30, championship, 6 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 9 Suwannee, No. 10 Gainesville Eastside, No. 12 Alachua Santa Fe, No. 17 Palatka, No. 18 Baker County.

The top seed: Suwannee. Which Bulldogs team will appear in the playoffs: the one that lost five consecutive games in late November and early December, or the one that went unbeaten in its next six? Joel De La Cruz (seven goals) and Josh Jahuey (five goals) are the top scorers.

Area bubble team: None. Based on the FHSAA ranking formula, this is a one-berth district.

Player to watch: Blake Mays, Baker County. The senior fills a multitude of roles for Baker County football and does the same in soccer with eight goals and eight assists for the Wildcats. Their record is the best in the district, but they're seeded at the bottom based on strength of schedule.

DISTRICT 3-4A

At Stanton

Schedule: Jan. 26, Ribault vs. West Nassau, 5:30 p.m.; Raines vs. Fernandina Beach, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, Raines-Fernandina Beach winner vs. Stanton, 5:30 p.m.; Ribault-West Nassau winner vs. Yulee, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 2, championship, 6 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 4 Yulee, No. 11 Stanton, No. 13 Fernandina Beach, No. 21 West Nassau, No. 22 Ribault, No. 24 Raines.

The top seed: Yulee. The Hornets' program has steadily buzzed forward for a half-dozen years now, and this is probably the best edition yet: a 13-2-1 record, scoring 60 goals this season and allowing eight.

Area bubble team: Stanton. The Blue Devils haven't missed the playoffs for five years, but they're on the outside looking in for the moment, needing to hop past at least three teams to grasp an at-large berth. Even reaching the district final might not be enough.

Player to watch: Sebastian Joinville, Yulee. The senior has tallied 12 goals and seven assists on the season, including two against possible district semifinal opponent West Nassau.

DISTRICT 4-4A

At Beachside

Schedule: Jan. 26, Paxon at Westside, 7 p.m.; White at Tocoi Creek, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30, White-Tocoi Creek winner at Beachside, 5:30 p.m.; Paxon-Westside winner vs. Bishop Kenny, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 2 Bishop Kenny, No. 7 Beachside, No. 8 Tocoi Creek, No. 16 Westside, No. 20 Paxon, No. 23 White.

The top seed: Bishop Kenny. Getting hot when it matters most. Joe Jimenez (9 goals, 11 assists) and Patrick Russell lead from the middle on a Crusaders team that hasn't allowed a goal for more than 400 minutes, winning its last six games.

Area bubble team: Tocoi Creek. Beachside and Tocoi Creek are seventh and eighth in the region, and since a District2-4A team is also assured of an automatic bid, there likely isn't room for both of them in the playoffs. A potential district semifianl could be a St. Johns County classic.

Player to watch: Darek Szarek, Beachside. With eight goals on the year, the junior is the Barracudas' top scorer inside the 18-yard box.

DISTRICT 3-3A

Bolles defender Donald Downer heads a ball in the 2022 regional championship. The Bulldogs enter the district tournament this week.
Bolles defender Donald Downer heads a ball in the 2022 regional championship. The Bulldogs enter the district tournament this week.

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 26, Bishop Snyder at Episcopal, 7 p.m.; Jackson at Wolfson, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28, Bishop Snyder-Episcopal winner at Bolles, 7 p.m.; Jackson-Wolfson winner at Providence, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 3 Bolles, No. 5 Providence, No. 6 Wolfson, No. 12 Episcopal, No. 14 Bishop Snyder, No. 21 Jackson.

The top seed: Bolles. It's been bumpy at times for the Bulldogs, who have lost five of their last seven games going back to December. Still, when knockout season arrives, Bolles is usually a reliable pick to advance deep into FHSAA regionals.

Area bubble team: Wolfson. Unless unexpected teams nab the automatic berths in District 2-3A and District 4-3A, Wolfson should be in fairly safe shape.

Player to watch: Luke Santamaria, Bolles. The junior is currently the hot finisher in the box for the Bulldogs, recording three goals and an assist in his last three games.

DISTRICT 4-3A

At Fort White

Schedule: Jan. 26, Fort White vs. Keystone Heights, 4 p.m.; Newberry vs. P.K. Yonge, 6 p.m.; Interlachen vs. Trinity Catholic, 8 p.m.; Jan. 30, Newberry-P.K. Yonge winner vs. Interlachen-Trinity Catholic winner, 5 p.m.; Fort White-Keystone Heights winner vs. Williston, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 4 Williston, No. 7 Ocala Trinity Catholic, No. 9 P.K. Yonge, No. 13 Keystone Heights, No. 18 Fort White, No. 19 Newberry, No. 24 Interlachen.

The top seed: Williston. At 13-2-2, the Red Devils are clear favorites for the district title, with a trio of double-digit scorers in Miguel Gutierrez, Jace Pavao and Jamalle Wolfe.

Area bubble team: None. For Keystone and Fort White, the only route to the playoffs requires winning the automatic bid.

Player to watch: Logan Spence, Keystone Heights. Keystone isn't among the top three seeds, but if their games turn into high-scoring shootouts, they're well equipped to win them with the attack of Spence (20 goals, 14 assists), Skylar Kedgley (21 goals, 9 assists) and Aaron Wiley (15 goals, 10 assists).

DISTRICT 3-2A

At St. Johns Country Day

Schedule: Jan. 26, University Christian vs. St. Johns Country Day, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31, Christ's Church vs. Harvest Community, 5:30 p.m.; University Christian-St. Johns Country Day winner vs. St. Joseph, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 2, championship, 5:30 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 St. Joseph, No. 3 Harvest Community, No. 7 Christ's Church, No. 8 St. Johns Country Day, No. 23 University Christian.

The top seed: St. Joseph. A final-four qualifier a year ago, the Flashes had to replace several of last season's stars but haven't missed a beat. Their only losses came by one goal to Providence and Flagler Palm Coast.

Area bubble team: St. Johns Country Day. Barring upsets in other districts, there's a real chance District 3-2A qualifies four teams, but the Spartans stand in the most perilous position only two years after playing in a state final.

Player to watch: Cade Thigpen, Harvest Community. With eight goals and six assists this season, the senior brings energy to the offense for the Warriors.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FHSAA boys soccer 2022-2023: Northeast Florida district tournament previews