Merritt Island boys soccer completes the Mustangs district championship sweep with a 2-1 winner over Bayside. As the district’s #1 ranked team, Merritt Island would host Bayside at Mustang Stadium. With both teams fighting to move onto the state championship tournament, this was guaranteed to be an intense matchup. The minutes ticked away as the regulation clock wound down, both teams unable to get on the score board.
With a district championship title on the line, the game advanced to overtime. Senior Captain, Grant Paparella would score the first goal of the match and put the Mustangs on top. Minutes later, Will Zabin (Captain) doubled the lead with a goal of his own.
The Bayside Bears wouldn’t leave empty handed. In the final minutes, they earned a late penalty kick and closed the margin to just one goal. The Mustangs defense would deny any further threats and were able to hold off the Bears to leave with the championship trophy.
Mustangs are now guaranteed to move into the state’s championship tournament and host the first round of regionals.
Boys looking to add their third state title to the trophy cabinet, following up on 2009 and 2014 championships.
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Merritt Island Girls Win 2022 District Title
About Merritt Island High School
Merritt Island High School is an accredited public high school in Brevard County, Florida. The school offers classes for grades 9-12, including Honors courses, Advanced Placement courses, and courses with the Dual Enrollment program at Eastern Florida State College. There are also a variety of academies available for students to enroll in, including the Advance Placement academy, Fame Academy for the performing arts and multi-media entertainment, and Davinci.
Five-Time FHSAA Soccer State Champions: 2009 Boys Class 4A | 2010 Girls Class 4A | 2014 Boys Class 3A | 2017 Girls Class 3A | 2018 Girls Class 3A
Merritt Island High School Soccer | Twitter: @Mustang_Soccer | Instagram: @Mustang_Soccer | Facebook: Merritt Island High School Soccer
