West Port boys, Vanguard girls win MCIAC soccer titles

The MCIAC soccer championship finals were held on a frigid Friday night at Booster Stadium with the West Port boys beating Forest, 3-1, while the Vanguard girls edged Forest, 2-0.

This is the second consecutive year that West Port, which improved to 11-2-1, has beaten Forest for the bragging rights as best boys soccer team in the county.

"What a great game," West Port coach Robert Boland said. "I can't say enough good things about not just my program, but Forest. That's a quality team with a quality program and I know those boys are hurting because nobody wants to lose, especially a championship game. Anytime we play Forest and win it gives us momentum."

The loss dropped FHS to 11-5-1.

"An amazing match with amazing teams," Wildcats coach Jason Wigginton said. "The better team won tonight. I got everything out of our boys that I expected and I'm extremely proud of them. We're a young team and West Port better watch out next year."

Forest started the scoring when sophomore Bradley Wigginton unloaded a laser from 25 yards out that found the back of the net to give the Class 6A Wildcats a 1-0 lead nine minutes into the match.

WPHS answered as senior Anibal Munoz scored on an incredibly acrobatic goal from 30 yards out to tie the match at 1 at the 26-minute mark of the first half.

The Class 7A Wolf Pack continued to attack, and it paid off as senior right winger Max Maysonet collected a beautiful through ball from Gustavo Maldonado and drilled a shot past the Forest keeper from 15 yards out for a 2-1 lead late in the first half.

Both teams had good scoring chances in the second half, but weren't able to capitalize.

West Port extended its lead when Forest was called for a foul in the penalty box and Munoz calmly ripped a penalty shot into the lower-left corner to give the Wolf Pack a 3-1 lead with 3:50 left in the match.

Forest, desperate to score, pressed the attack and had several chances sail wide of their mark.

Time ran out in the well-played and physical contest with West Port players celebrating the final whistle.

"Back-to-back," said an elated Boland. "I felt like we were controlling the game for the rest of the first half after they scored and the second half it started opening up for both teams. It was back and forth and I'm glad we were able to put the penalty kick in the back of the net."

West Port is back in action on Thursday night when the Wolf Pack host Trinity Catholic. Forest hosts The Villages Charter School on Tuesday.

In the girls final, Vanguard junior midfielder Marleigh Martinez scored both goals to lead the Knights to a 2-0 victory against Forest to claim the county championship.

The win improved Vanguard to 9-4 on the season.

"It feels great to win, and we've got a special team," Vanguard coach Bryan Giles said. "We knew we had to play our best game and it sure looked like we did. Marleigh is an all-around player, runs the field beautifully, has good vision and to see her score two goals tonight is special."

Both teams had excellent scoring opportunities in the first half, but neither could capitalize and they went to halftime locked in a scoreless tie.

Vanguard broke through when Martinez gathered in a rebound of a shot and knocked it past the Forest keeper to give the Knights a 1-0 lead early in the second half.

Forest had several chances to gain the equalizer, but Vanguard goalie Jenna Walker was up to the task and stopped the attempts.

Vanguard added to its lead when Martinez received a beautiful through ball and booted it into the lower-right portion of the goal to make it 2-0 with 15 minutes left in the match.

Forest, which beat Vanguard earlier in the season, tried desperately to score, but the Knights defense kept the Wildcats at bay to seal the county championship.

"It feels amazing," Martinez said. “I've played with a lot of these girls since I was nine, and we have some rivalries and it's really special to be able to win. This win is a confidence-booster and gives us momentum heading into the district tournament."

Vanguard hosts North Marion on Tuesday. The Knights begin play in the District 5-5A tournament the following week.

"This is a good win and gets us ready for district tournament play," Giles said. "Hopefully we can put things together and see this thing through."

Forest, which dropped to 8-7-1, plays at West Port on Tuesday night. The Wildcats will begin play in the District 4-6A tournament the following week.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: West Port boys, Vanguard girls win MCIAC soccer titles at Booster Stadium