West Orange soccer falls in state title match to Cypress Bay in penalty kicks

MELBOURNE — The good fortune the West Orange Warriors had enjoyed throughout the state playoffs in penalty kicks ran out in the FHSAA Class 5A Boys Soccer State Championship.

The Warriors fell to Cypress Bay on Saturday in the state final in penalty kicks, 2-1 (4-1 PKs), after the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtime periods.

West Orange, which had not missed a penalty kick attempt against Evans in the Class 5A Region 1 Semifinals or against Freedom in the State Semifinals, missed two on Saturday, opening the door for the Lightning to take the title.

Head coach Scott Fisher said it was a tall task for his boys to play contests on consecutive days that went to double-overtime — and beyond — and that the fatigue may have cost them a bit in the end.

“First half we had a little bit of energy but as the game progressed we just got wore out,” Fisher said. “It’s a little rough, sometimes, playing these back-to-backs. I’m proud of the guys — to come out (and play) two double-overtimes, penalty kicks; two nights in-a-row. That’s a lot of heart.”

West Orange struck first in the game’s 38th minute on a goal by Felipe Silva, assisted by Paul Mansingh. Cypress Bay responded on a goal in the contest’s 55th minute by David Reyes.

Cypress Bay has now beat West Orange twice in the state championship, having done so also in 2013, 1-0.

The Warriors, who were thought to be in a rebuilding season, finished with a 14-2-4 record and a second trip to the state title game in three years.

“We accomplished a lot,” Silva said afterward. “People weren’t even expecting us to win district and we came all the way to the state finals — that’s something to be proud of.”