Cocoa Beach High School's soccer team fell to Downtown Doral 2-1 in the 3A state semifinals on Friday at the Florida State Soccer Complex in Tallahassee. The loss ends Cocoa Beach's season, which saw the team reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018.
Downtown Doral, a team from Miami-Dade County, advances to the state final for the first time in program history. The game was tightly contested, with Cocoa Beach taking a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute through a goal by senior forward Emily Carter. Doral equalized in the 35th minute and scored the winning goal in the 68th minute.
Cocoa Beach coach Mark Thompson praised his team's effort but acknowledged the gap between the two sides. 'We competed hard, but Doral's depth and experience showed today,' he said. The team finished the season with a 14-4-2 record, including a 7-1-1 mark in district play.
Downtown Doral's victory sets up a final matchup with Oviedo High School, which defeated Lake Mary 3-2 in the other semifinal. Doral coach Luis Ramirez called the win 'a culmination of years of work.' The final is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.
The loss marks the end of a memorable season for Cocoa Beach, which had not advanced beyond the regional round since 2018. The team will now focus on next year's campaign, with several key players returning for their senior seasons.