Stolen dreams
Gulf Coast's Matthew Herman (4) reacts after East Lake's defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 in the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. An apparent goal, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded and East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Poised to make another run, Gulf Coast High School, the defending FHSAA Class 7A boys soccer state champions, hosted East Lake High School in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs. After an apparent goal by Gulf Coast in the second half, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded, East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later while Gulf Coast players were still celebrating. According to multiple East Lake players, the ball went in, but the goalie tricked the referees, and they advanced to the regional semifinals with a 2-1 win over Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast's Lee Rooney (7) reacts after taking a free kick during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1.
East Lake's Nick Sadorf (2) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, a potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded, and Sadorf scored seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Gulf Coast's Marcelo Maffei (10) reacts after missing a shot during the first half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, a potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded and East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Gulf Coast's Sebastian Merhar (20) and East Lake's Luis Alejandro Avila-Mena (25) attack the ball during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida
Gulf Coast's Manuel Pacheco (14) reacts after missing a penalty kick during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded and East Lake scored the game-winner seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Gulf Coast's Sebastian Merhar (20) and East Lake's Hassan Tajeddine (24) fight for possession of the ball during the first half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded, East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Gulf Coast's Phillip Hajar (9) and East Lake's Matthew Hahn (7) attack the ball during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 after an apparent goal by Gulf Coast, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded and East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Gulf Coast's Phillip Hajar (9) celebrates after an apparent goal, the potential game-winner, during the second half of the varsity boys soccer Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match between East Lake and Gulf Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. East Lake scored the game-winning goal on a quick swing following the celebration of the apparent goal by Gulf Coast. East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida
Gulf Coast's Wesley Podos (23) and Gulf Coast's Ellio Eichalbaum (6) react after East Lake defeated Gulf Coast 2-1 in the Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal match, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla. An apparent goal by Gulf Coast, the potential game-winner, wasn’t awarded and East Lake scored the game-winning goal seconds later. Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida
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