St. Joe boys post three straight shutouts

The Port St. Joe boys soccer team recorded three shutout victories last week. 

On Monday, Dec. 13, the Tiger Sharks posted an 8-0 drubbing of the winless Bozeman Bucks. On Wednesday, St. Joe traveled to Eastpoint and downed Franklin County 3-0, and ended the week with a convincing 6-0 win over the also winless Wakulla Christian Saints Friday, Dec. 17. 

Sophomore Lance Larry set the pace with two goals and two assists against the Bucks, with six other Sharks sharing scoring honors. 

Seniors Elias Alexander and Justice Peacock each booted a goal, with Alexander setting up two other scores with his assists. 

Juniors Jaydon Gant, Caden Jackson, and Christian Peacock also scored, along with sophomore Taylor Burkett. 

The Tiger Sharks struck first in the opening period against the Seahawks, nailing a goal by junior Jaydon Gant followed by another quick score by Peacock, and then a third one by sophomore Taylor Burkett, all before the first water break. After that, the two teams played to a stalemate, with two tight defenses bottling up their opponent.

“Franklin is much improved, and they put a lot of work into their program,” said coach Bobby Alexander. The Seahawks fell to 7-2, and 1-1 in district play.

“Coming over here we knew this would be a really tough game, and so we asked our boys to make sure they just played well, that they used the field and not try to just boot and chase, and work their way down the field,” he said. ““The first two goals were just the work of them playing in the midfield well, holding the ball and making good quality runs.

“Overall hats off to Franklin, they played a great game,” said Alexander.

“They scored three quick goals and we had the opportunity offensively and we did not capitalize on our opportunities,” said McCullough. “We’re closing the gap between the programs. We’re getting there.”

The Tiger Sharks are slated to host the second game of the rivalry on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Against the Saints, Gant found the opposing goal four times, with Alexander and seventh grader William Shoaf adding scores as well. 

Larry added two assists, with Alexander and sophomore Estevan Angel each contributing assists. 

Sophomore Fisher Vandertulip preserved the shutouts in all three wins, with eighth grader Connor Howell giving Vandertulip a breather for the final 10 minutes of the Wakulla contest. 

Now 6-5, and 3-0 in league play, the Sharks will host North Bay Haven on Monday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

David Adlerstein assisted with the reporting in this article.