- April 28, 2024
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Sandcrabs Hannah Howell (5) and Charlie Deininger (21) double team Horizon's Hannah Hidle in the Region 2-5A final. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Charlie Deininger kicks the ball past Hannah Heidle in the Region 2-5A final against Horizon. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze and Horizon starters and referees are introduced before the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze and Horizon soccer players salute the flag before the Region 2-5A game at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Horizon goalkeeper and her teammates slap hands before the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Annabel Thistle (left) and Lily Dobson battle for ball control in the Region 2-5A final between Seabreeze and Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Carly McNerney (7) draws back to drive the ball down field in the Region 2-5A final against Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze senior Morgan Long pushes Horizon's McKenna McBride for control of the ball in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head soccer coach Eli Freidus lectures his team during the water break in the first half of the Region 2-5A final against Horizon. Photo by Michele Meyers
The ball goes out-of-bounds after Seabreeze's Charlie Deininger puts pressure on Horizon's Kylie Willin the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
During the Region 2-5A final against Horizon, Seabreeze head soccer coach Eli Freidus gives an animated speech about being down one point at halftime. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kayla Lancing (22) and Eduarda Novaes Negri (10) juggle the ball between them before Lancing kicks it to a teammate in the Region 2-5A final at Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Annabel Thistle (3) battles Hawk defender Mackenzie Ruel in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Comlex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Horizon players watch as Seabreeze's Annabel Thistle heads the ball close to the goal in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sprots Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Charlie Deininger (right) and Horizon's Hannah Heidle (left) watch as the ball as it drops toward them after the goalie kick in the Region 2-5A final. Photo by Michele Meyers
Morgan Long (6) heads the ball in the Region 2-5A final against Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Kylie Watson (left) attempts to head the ball into the goal toward the end of the Region 2-5A final against Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze charges Horizon goalie Ella Henderson in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Annabel Thistle (3) battles Hawk defender Mackenzie Ruel in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Comlex. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Horizon Hawks celebrate their 1-0 Region 2-5A final win against Sebreeze at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Charlie Deininger (right) controls the ball in the Region 2-5A final against Horizon. Photo by Michele Meyers
Horizon's Lily Dobson (left) and Seabreeze's Annabel Thistle (3) fight for control of the ball during the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris walks with Morgan Long after the loss against Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze goalie Chloe Frank (left) and Olivia Chase (right) console Morgan Long (6) after the loss against Horizon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze girls soccer team surround Kylie Watson (center) after the 1-0 loss against Horizon in the REgion 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Olivia Chase (left) and Kylie Will (right) eye the ball in the Region 2-5A final at the Ormond Beach Sports complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze fell 1-0 to Horizon of Winter Springs in the Region 2-5A girls soccer final on Wednesday, Feb. 21, putting a stop to the Sandcrabs' eight-game winning streak and their playoff run.
The No. 2-seeded Sandcrabs went into the final as favorites against the Hawks, who were seeded fourth. Seabreeze had just come off a 2-0 win in the region semifinals against Auburndale, which had beaten Horizon 3-1 on Jan. 31.
Seabreeze head coach Eli Freidus said the Sandcrabs felt solid going into the game.
“I think the girls were pretty confident about the game,” he said. “The key to that game was that once we got a goal down, we were in trouble because Horizon (is) very good defensively. That’s how they upset Cypress Creek the other day. They just played good defense. To their credit, they flustered us.”
Ten minutes into the game, Morgan Long had the first shot on goal for the Sandcrabs. Nine minutes later, Horizon midfielder McKenna McBride answered with the only goal of the game. The referees called for a water break immediately following the goal.
I couldn’t be more proud of your season. You were the main group when I came in three years ago. You will never forget your time as Seabreeze soccer players. You guys are sisters. That’s what I told you from the beginning, I want you guys to be sisters. Hate me. Hate the other team, but you have to love each other. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are great players and greater people — that’s what’s important.
— ELI FREIDUS, Seabreeze girls head soccer coach to his players.
During the break, Freidus said he reiterated the game plan to play the ball wide and not kick to the middle of the field where Horizon’s defenders were positioned. Seabreeze possessed the ball the majority of the game and held the Hawks captive on the Sandcrabs' side of the field.
“We couldn’t get good position and get our game plan going,” Freidus said. “This group of girls, especially the seniors, they’ve been through so much. They’ve had more playoff wins than any group of girls in the last 20 years at our school. It stings for them. This was the year we were going to break through.”
For two consecutive years, the Sandcrabs were regional semifinalists, losing 1-0 to Ponte Verde in 2021 and 1-0 to Bishop Moore the following year. In 2023, they lost to Cypress Creek 3-2 in the regional final.
“All those games, we lost by one goal,” Freidus said. “One goal — four years in a row.”
Freidus began coaching the girls team in 2021. Each season, he has ramped up the schedules to include top 10-ranked teams. He said this season’s schedule was the toughest with games played against FHSAA No. 1 ranked Ponte Vedra, No. 4 Bartram Trail, No. 6 Creekside and No. 8 Montverde Academy. Seabreeze finished the season 12-7-1.
Freidus talked with his players after the loss.
“I couldn’t be more proud of your season,” he said. “You were the main group when I came in three years ago. You will never forget your time as Seabreeze soccer players. You guys are sisters. That’s what I told you from the beginning, I want you guys to be sisters. Hate me. Hate the other team but you have to love each other. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are great players and greater people — that’s what’s important.”
Seniors Long and Kylie Watson took the loss hard. Freidus crouched down next to Watson who had retreated behind the bench.
“My seniors are great kids on and off the field,” he said “They are superstars. I love them. I’m going to miss them. I’ve spent so much time with them now, I told them they are like my own daughters. I told Kylie, heads up, she’s had a great career and has a great life ahead of her.”
There will be no down time for Seabreeze players Sophia Fabulich, Carly McNerney, Long and Watson who are players on the Seabreeze flag football team. They won 13-0 in their season opener against Flagler Palm Coast on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and have two home games scheduled this week vs. Trinity Christian Academy and Matanzas.
