The Ransom Everglades Raiders varsity boys’ soccer team came out of the second half energized with five goals Wednesday night as they continued their regional push past the Keys Gate Charter Knights 5-0. Five different players were able to find the goal: David Pulido ‘21, Danny Mendoza ‘21, Felipe de Cardenas ‘22, Daniel Stancioff ‘23, and Daniel Daley ‘22. Dillan Kaye ‘22 led the team with two assists, while Juan Rivera ‘22 and Christian Gardener ‘24 both added one. 

“The team is playing better than ever right now,” Mendoza, a co-captain of the team, said. “Every single player has played an important role since the postseason has started, and I am thrilled with where we currently stand. I am confident that if we keep carrying this momentum forward, we can make it very far this year.”   

RE controlled the game from the start and created multiple scoring chances but was unable to capitalize against a well-organized Keys Gate defense. The Raiders went into halftime tied with the Knights 0-0 but were able to create constant pressure to use into the second half. 

“The team showed great poise in what was a frustrating game, adjusting their play to keep the ball on the ground, working it wide, getting players forward, and looking for low crosses,” head coach David Villano said. “Our defense played amazingly but specifically Walker White [‘21] stood out.”  

Shortly after halftime, Pulido opened up scoring for the Raiders with a 20-yard strike from outside the box. Moments later, Mendoza had a great play taking the ball down the left wing where he placed a low shot into the opposite corner of the goal, increasing the Raider lead to 2-0. Then, after a cross to the left side of the field from Rivera, Daley beat two defenders and shot the ball into the opposite corner, adding on to the score just after Mendoza. Ransom Everglades used this momentum to score three goals within 10 minutes after halftime. 

“We were unfortunate in the first half as we created dozens of opportunities, but the ball wouldn’t go in the back of the net,” Mendoza said. “But thankfully we managed to score three goals in the first ten minutes of the second half, and we knew the game was ours.”  

The Raiders continued pressing and were able to score with a Stancioff header off a corner kick and an outside-the-box strike from de Cardenas to close the game.  

“With this win, we now have a tough rematch on Saturday night against Westminster in the regional semifinal,” Villano said. “A win will move the Raiders to the regional championship game for the first time since 2016, which is the same year we won our only state title. This is a really special group, and I like our chances to win out.”   

The Raiders now advance to the Regional Semifinals as they prepare to take on the Westminster Chrisitan Warriors on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.