- Buchholz boys soccer team scored a season-high nine goals in a 9-2 win against Gainesville at Citizens Field on Wednesday night.
- Senior Teague McNeal scored a hat trick and junior Daniel Prieto provided four assists during the City Cup victory.
- Buchholz finished the regular season unbeaten with a 14-0-1 record and a total of 75 goals in 15 games.
- The Bobcats, ranked 27th nationally by MaxPreps, will next compete in the Class 6A-District 3 tournament at Matanzas in Palm Coast.
The offensive onslaught continued for the Buchholz boys soccer team on Wednesday night.
Senior Teague McNeal had a hat trick, junior Daniel Prieto added four assists, and the Bobcats scored three goals in the first seven minutes of the match in a 9-2 win against Gainesville at Citizens Field.
It was a season high in scoring for the ‘Cats and pushed their total to 75 goals in 15 games as Buchholz won the City Cup and finished the regular season unbeaten.
“We are so proud of these boys,” said first-year Buchholz head coach Todd Rousseau. “They are so dedicated. This year, we’ve got 12 seniors on the team that just make it wonderful to coach with Teague (McNeal), Christian (McDaniel), Carlos (Cadet), we have a dynamic front five.”
Cadet scored the first goal of the night, his 12th of the season, and two minutes later, senior midfielder Dylan Fitzpatrick gave the Bobcats (14-0-1) a 2-0 lead.
Cadet and Fitzpatrick each had two goals and an assist as Buchholz defeated GHS (4-7-2) for the second time this season.
“It means a lot,” said Fitzpatrick, who was a freshman on GHS’ unbeaten team during the 2022-23 regular season. “When we’re playing against all our friends, it’s always amazing, but we always want to beat him. We always want to win. I’ve won every year I’ve played, so it’s been pretty nice.”
One minute later, McNeal had the first of three goals for a quick 3-0 lead and what proved to be the game-winning goal.
“We just moved him from playing the 11 or the seven and moved him up top and he’s been dynamic up there with scoring those head balls,” Rousseau said. “We’ve been moving him around side to side. He changes the style of the game we play. We can cross it in, and he finds it with his head.”
It was the second hat trick of the season for McNeal, who had all three goals in the opening half as Buchholz built a 6-1 lead at the break.
“I was really focused on that one,” McNeal said. “I mean, obviously, Gainesville, rivalry there, and I have some buddies on that team, so it’s always good to have that to talk about off the field. But it’s just an amazing feeling being able to show up tonight for our team. I know how hard those guys work. They’re really great individuals, and it was just amazing to be able to show up for them tonight.”
Senior forward Christian Segura (2 assists) and junior Christian McDaniel also added a goal apiece for Buchholz, which defeated Eastside, 5-1, on Monday night to finish 2-0 in the round robin tournament.
The Bobcats, who are ranked 27th nationally by MaxPreps, are back in action next week (TBA) in the Class 6A-District 3 tournament at Matanzas (Palm Coast).
