Playoff soccer: Pair of late goals saves Freedom -- Observer Preps

ORLANDO For just over 76 minutes Wednesday night, the Freedom Patriots boys soccer team trailed visiting Strawberry Crest and stared down the end of its season.

Then, in the span of three minutes, the whole game was turned on its head.

First, trailing 1-0 with just under four minutes left, Fernando Abreu converted a free kick into a goal to tie the game, giving the Patriots new life.

"Fernando will hit that (free kick) all day long — nine out of 10 times he scores that goal," Freedom head coach Mark Higdon. "All we needed was just that one."

About two minutes later, with roughly a minute to play, J.P. Vinha broke free and scored a go-ahead goal — his 16th of the season — to put the Patriots ahead. Seconds later, the final whistle blew, and Freedom (22-3-2) had escaped with a playoff victory.

"We kept our composure," Higdon said. "It took us a while to get one in the net, but all we needed was one."

The Patriots, who survived two close games in the district tournament last week, were relieved to see that the early goal they had allowed did not cost them their season.

"This was something for the books — it was intense," said senior goalkeeper Connor Smallwood. "(A game like this) reminds you what you're made of."

Freedom will travel to play Plant City at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Class 5A Regional Semifinals.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].