Port Orange Spruce Creek is unbeaten and state-ranked heading into this week’s annual Mike Stone Invitational at Hickory Point Park in Tavares.
The 16-team tournament, named in honor of its late founder, opens with first round games Wednesday morning. The championship match is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m.
The Hawks, participating in the event for the 14th year, finished runners-up after reaching the title game in 2005-06 and 2012.
But Spruce Creek is off to a 12-0-0 start this season with a number of quality wins already under its belt. They’ll help kick off the tournament Wednesday at 10 a.m. against Apopka (3-6-0).
“You usually get at least three good matches against quality opponents, and put yourself in situations where you might end up going to PKs or end up playing a team with an MVP-like player that you have to strategize for,” Spruce Creek coach Keith Costner said. “It’s good to see those types of situations.”
The Hawks, ranked No. 6 in the state by TopDrawerSoccer.com, handed DeLand (10-1-0) its only loss on Dec. 13 in a 3-1 win before knocking off defending Class 3A state champion Daytona Beach Seabreeze (8-2-3) by that same score Dec. 19.
Those early results have instilled confidence in a team that was eliminated by DeLand in overtime last year in a Class 5A region semifinal.
“My job right now has been to keep us focused on one thing at a time, because obviously everybody has been talking about the fact that we’re unbeaten,” Costner said.
Spruce Creek needed late goals inside the final 20 minutes to get past Seabreeze as they relied on depth and senior leadership in both games while overcoming deficits.
Four-year starter Sam Abraham leads the team with 20 goals scored. Senior goalkeeper Jack McDevitt has allowed just nine goals in 12 matches.
The Mike Stone Invitational boys soccer tournament is in its 22nd year.
Boone, Winter Park and Lake Brantley won the tournament title from 2004-06. Ocoee was the last area team to win it in 2008 before Evans defeated Osceola in the finals in 2014 and 2015.
Mike Stone Invitational
Hickory Point Recreation Park, Tavares
Wednesday matchups
Apopka (3-6-0) vs. Port Orange Spruce Creek (12-0-0), 10 a.m.
Bishop Moore (8-1-0) vs. Lakeland (3-8-2), 10 a.m.
Dr. Phillips (4-3-2) vs. Osceola (5-4-2), 12
Evans (7-5-0) vs. Satellite (4-4-2), 12
Lake Nona (3-7-3) vs. Palmetto (7-1-1), 2
Haines City (0-10-2) vs. Stanton (5-4-2), 2
Eustis (4-3-1) vs. Mariner (13-3-0), 4
Key West (2-6-0) vs. Tallahassee Lincoln (8-2-1), 4
Play continues Thursday-Friday
