P.K. Yonge, Santa Fe sweep All Area soccer coach awards

All Area soccer coaches of year
Santa Fe boys soccer coach Morgan Dall'Acqua (left) and P.K. Yonge's girls soccer coach Rebecca Schackow were selected as two of the four All Area soccer Coaches of the Year.
Graphic by Seth Johnson/Photos by C.J. Gish

This is the third of three stories unveiling the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area Soccer Teams. Click here to read about the big and small school girls teams and the big and small school boys teams.

The third time was the charm for the P.K. Yonge girls soccer team, which advanced to its first final four in program history in February.

The Lady Blue Wave (16-4-3) defeated Episcopal (Jacksonville) at home, 2-1, in the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 1 Final to advance to this year’s 3A state semifinals, before losing to nationally ranked Montverde Academy, 3-0, in the state semifinals.

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Following their first state semifinals appearance and their fifth straight district title, P.K. Yonge girls’ soccer coach Rebecca Schackow, and P.K. Yonge boys coach José De León, who led the boys to a 20-win season, a 3A-District 4 title, and a playoff win, have been recognized as the top small school girls and boys coaches of the year.

P.K. Yonge's Rebecca Schackow (right) finished third in voting for the Class 3A Coach of the Year.
Photo by C.J. Gish P.K. Yonge’s Rebecca Schackow (right) finished third in voting for the Class 3A Coach of the Year.

They join boys big school coach Morgan Dall’Acqua of Santa Fe (Alachua) and girls big school coach Matt Kramer (Santa Fe) as our Bosshardt Realty Coaches of the Year.

“The PKY girls soccer program has always been filled with players who have big dreams and big goals,” Schackow said. “Each year, we set out to achieve as much as possible, knowing that we can be proud of any outcome or result because we gave our best.  This season was extra special because we made school history.”

Schackow, who finished third in the voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers 3A Coach of the Year, achieved 100 wins in her career this year.

“We are honored to represent all of the players and coaches who came before us, creating a legacy of excellence, helping us achieve this accomplishment, and, we are happy,” she said. “It feels great to win a big game and go the final four. The experience was amazing and very memorable.”

Last year, P.K. Yonge came up just short of a final four appearance, losing in double overtime, 3-2, to Bolles (Jacksonville) in the 3A-Region 1 Final.

“My players saw the extra work that was going to be needed to improve and advance and were willing to put in that work to be the best we could be as a team,” said Schackow, who was Mainstreet’s small school girls Coach of the Year last year. “They are a courageous and selfless bunch. I am really proud of them. I am so happy that they get to experience the joy that comes with a big win and a big accomplishment.”  

Santa Fe girls soccer coach Matt Kramer.
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe girls soccer coach Matt Kramer.

Special recognition goes out to Keystone Heights coach Roger Laurent, who led his team to a district runner-up finish and postseason berth.

The Indians (12-7-1) lost three times to the Lady Blue Wave this year, falling 5-0 in the 3A-District 4 championship game and 8-0 in the first round of the 3A state playoffs.

Kramer led Santa Fe to a postseason berth and finished ahead of Jeremy Witt of Gainesville High (11-4-2) in the voting for the big school girls COY.

“I was blessed this year with a great group of girls that were determined to improve and had the never give up attitude,” said Kramer. “Not only did they excel on the field but in the classroom. They know that student commitment is more important than the athlete part and ended up with one of the highest GPAs in the school. They made me look good as a coach and showed what hard work and determination can do.”

Santa Fe, which lost both meetings to the Hurricanes this season, defeated Suwannee (Live Oak) in the 4A-District 2 championship, while No. 2 seed GHS missed the playoffs after getting upset by No. 3 seed Forest (Ocala), 1-0, in the 6A-District 4 semifinals.

“This was GHS girls’ best season in 20 years,” Witt said.

It was a big turnaround for the P.K. Yonge boys, who won just eight games last year.

The Blue Wave (20-3) surpassed that total before the start of 2024 and finished out the year with a 1-1 record in the Class 3A state playoffs.

“I am truly humbled and grateful to receive the Coach of the Year award,” De León said. “It is a privilege to be recognized among so many talented and deserving coaches in the area.”

P.K. Yonge boys soccer coach José D. De León.
Courtesy of Lucas Massengale P.K. Yonge boys soccer coach José De León.

P.K. Yonge defeated North Bay Haven Academy in Panama City, 4-0, in the first round of the 3A state playoffs followed by an 8-0 loss at eventual state semifinalist Maclay (Tallahassee) in the regional semifinals.

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my team for their hard work, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the season, but above all of that, for being a fun team to work with,” De León said. “Without their passion and commitment, this award would not have been possible. I am truly blessed to work with such an amazing group of athletes who continuously inspire me to be the best coach I can be.”

He also thanked his coaching staff, school and family, “for being part of this incredible journey.”

“Their belief in me and constant encouragement have been instrumental in my success,” he said. “As a coach, my ultimate goal is to help my athletes reach their full potential, both on and off the field, and to have fun and learn valuable life lessons beyond the soccer field. This award serves as a reminder of the impact that we can make when we work together towards a common goal.”

Douglas Beard of Bell, who led the Bulldogs (12-5) to within one game of the 2A final four, and Andy Westfall of Oak Hall (13-1-1), which had an unbeaten regular season and defeated Bell, 2-0, in the 2A-District 2 title game, were honorable mention selections.

It was quite a turnaround for the Santa Fe boys, who won just five games last season.

In his first season, Dall’Acqua led the Raiders to an 11-4-2 record, a district championship, and an FHSAA playoff spot.

Santa Fe's boys soccer coach Morgan Dall’Acqua.
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s boys soccer coach Morgan Dall’Acqua.

“I am really shocked to be named as the Coach of the Year,” Dall’Acqua said. “There are several very deserving coaches from our region. From the big school side, it is hard to vote for anyone other than Coach Basil at GHS but this season I had Coach Journey at Buchholz winning it all. He had his kids playing great ball all season and he just flat outcoached me in the Alachua County Cup.”

Santa Fe, which defeated Suwannee (Live Oak), 3-1, to win the 4A-District 2 title, lost at home to eventual state semifinalist South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach), 2-1, in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.

“This is a staff award at SFHS.” Dall’Acqua said. “I am beyond blessed to have a group of coaches who could lead programs and have success on their own accord, but they are willing to combine their efforts to make this program a special place. Secondly, without the buy-in from our players, especially under a first-year staff, none of this would be possible. This recognition is as result of all of their hard work and dedication over the last nine months.”

Journey did get special recognition, finishing second in the voting to Dall’Acqua.

The Bobcats (11-2-3) lost to Forest (Ocala) in overtime on penalty kicks in the 6A-District 4 championship game, followed by another overtime loss at Tate (Cantonment) in the first round of the 6A state playoffs.

“Overall, the Buchholz Boys Soccer team was quite successful considering our only two losses came after overtime, during penalty kicks, and we finished with two very hard-fought exciting games in the district final and quarterfinals of regional play,” Journey said.

GIRLS SMALL SCHOOL (2A-3A)

Coach of the Year: Rebecca Schackow, P.K. Yonge
Honorable mention: Roger Laurent, Keystone Heights

GIRLS – BIG SCHOOL (4A-6A)

Coach of the Year: Matt Kramer, Santa Fe

Honorable mention (COY): Jeremy Witt, Gainesville

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (2A-3A)

Coach of the Year: José De León, P.K. Yonge
Honorable mention (COY): Douglas Beard, Bell and Andy Westfall, Oak Hall

BOYS – BIG SCHOOL (4A-6A)

Coach of the Year: Morgan Dall’Acqua, Santa Fe

Honorable mention (COY): Phillip Journey, Buchholz



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