SOCCER

Naos' OT winner leads Miami Belen Jesuit to 5A boys' soccer title over Tampa Jesuit

The Daytona Beach News-Journal

DELAND — Stefano Naos cleaned up a spilled free kick in overtime, and delivered Miami Belen Jesuit its second state boys' soccer championship in school history.

Naos tapped home a rebound from Alejandro Pereyra's free kick in the 93rd minute, clinching a 2-1 win for the Wolverines (18-3-1) against Tampa Jesuit in the Class 5A final on Saturday night at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

Belen Jesuit's Stefano Naos celebrates with fans after scoring what would be the game-winning goal in the second overtime period against Tampa Jesuit in the Class 5A boys soccer state championship game Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. Belen Jesuit won the game 2-1.

Belen, which also needed overtime heroics to defeat Naples Lely in the state semifinal round, rallied from an early deficit. Ty Cabassa gave Jesuit (17-2-2) the lead after just 13 minutes, converting a counterattack and banking his breakaway shot home off the inside of the post.

Matias Perinot equalized for the Wolverines just before the second-half water break, setting the stage for a fairly frantic finish.

Belen lost its starting goalkeeper, Manuel Rincon, after he landed awkwardly defending a last-second launched free kick. Jack Volpe entered as Jesuit prepared one final corner in regulation, one which produced a few tense moments in the box but was ultimately defended.

Tampa Jesuit's Hyatt Shar (24) avoids a sliding tackle by Belen Jesuit's Gianluca Mejia during Saturday's Class 5A boys soccer state championship game Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.

Volpe punched away the Tigers' last chance, a 98th-minute corner and commanded the box in the most pressure-packed of circumstances.

Defending champion Jesuit was denied in its bid for an eighth state title. Phillip Falcon made nine saves for the Tigers, including three in the overtime periods.