When Santa Fe boys soccer coach Morgan Dall’Acqua saw the draw for this week’s FHSAA Class 3A-Region 1 Quarterfinal, he knew Suwannee (Live Oak) was not the opponent he wanted to play.

The Raiders edged the Bulldogs, 2-1, at home on Nov. 17, and the teams tied 1-1 in Live Oak on Dec. 9.

“Having the tie saved us tonight because to have had success here and then go up there to their place and win, I feel like we would have put ourselves in a mental lapse position, or we might be overlooking them,” Dall’Acqua said.

On Tuesday night, after a scoreless first half, senior forward Dharma Rico scored a goal and assisted the game-winner as Santa Fe edged Suwannee, 2-1, at Warren Buck Field in Alachua.

“We are very similar,” Dall’Acqua said. “Their entire schedule was built for postseason and he (Suwannee coach Chris Joyner) made it through the schedule better than .500. I’m very, very happy that we were able to come out of here with a victory. That’s a good program across the way.”

Both goalkeepers made some great saves, including a deflection by Suwannee junior Brayden Hearn on a shot from 30 yards out by Santa Fe freshman Owen Boone just under 14 minutes into the match.

But Santa Fe freshman Hunter LaLonde made two big saves with just under three minutes remaining in the first half to keep the game scoreless.

The first was a diving play on a header by Suwannee senior Josue Tellez and the second was a shot from about 40 yards out by sophomore midfielder Phillip Yaxon that was deflected and hit the top of the crossbar.

“He had the tip that got to the bar, and he went down and pulled a great header right out of the ground down here, I mean, just a wonderful save. He’s played really well for us,” Dall’Acqua said.

In the second half, after another save by Hearn on a line drive by senior captain Wayne Boone right at the keeper, the Raiders (12-4-3) finally broke through.

Rico moved from right to far left at the top of the box and then hit a shot across his body and into the right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead with 16:43 remaining in the match.

“Yesterday, I was practicing penalties just in case this game would go to penalties, and I figured out that my shot across is a lot more consistent than my shot, like straight, I guess, so I guess I’ve just got to keep hitting it across and it showed today,” Rico said. “I kind of copied what I did against Palatka, but it was a little less swazzy. Against Palatka, I hit a double fake and then shot it on that side, but this time I just hit a single fake and then shot it and it worked.”

Suwannee (11-10-4) tied the match at 1-1 on a goal by junior Rember Alonso, who spun away from Santa Fe sophomore Dhana Fitch in the box and found the left side of the net.

Less than a minute later, Santa Fe answered with the game-winner on a goal by Wayne Boone for a 2-1 lead with 10:54 remaining in the half.

“I gave Suwannee that goal and I knew I had to make up for it somehow and the next play I did just that,” said Wayne Boone, who said he got a little too greedy and gave the ball away on the Bulldogs’ only goal. “I never take anything for granted. I give God all the glory. We have to know that goals don’t matter and we’ve just got to keep on going.”

Rico, who has been playing on the varsity since his freshman season with Wayne Boone, had the assist.

“Well, I was a little lost because I don’t usually play striker, so I’m not really in position like that with my back turned to the goal and everyone surrounding me,” Rico said. “So I was, honestly, I shouldn’t have had that much time. But I was kind of like frozen in time, was moving a little slow, and then I saw Wayne coming through, and I really don’t have any other options, so I just laid it off, and he whipped it in.

Santa Fe will get a home match next Tuesday in the regional semifinals as No. 7 seed South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) upset No. 2 seed Wolfson (Jacksonville), 2-0, on the road.

“I’m a senior, so that makes me feel really good that I get to play in my house one more time,” Wayne Boone said. “Just not take any minute for granted. We’ve got to come out with the same mentality in that game too. The next 80 minutes, we’ve got to go win to make it to the regional final.”

FHSAA Boys Soccer

Regional Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 3

Class 1A-Region 1

5 Oak Hall 1, 4 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) 0

Class 2A-Region 1

1 Maclay (Tallahassee) 8, 8 Branford 0

4 Williston 3, 5 Global Outreach Charter Academy (Jacksonville) 1

3 P.K. Yonge 4, 6 Marianna 2

Class 3A-Region 1                                                                                                                      

3 Santa Fe (Alachua) 2, 6 Suwannee (Live Oak) 1

Friday, Feb. 6

Class 6A-Region 1

5 Buchholz at 4 Tate (Cantonment)

Regional Semifinals – Tuesday, Feb. 10

Class 1A-Region 1

5 Oak Hall at 1 University Christian (Jacksonville)

Class 2A-Region 1

3 P.K. Yonge at 2 Episcopal (Jacksonville)

Class 3A-Region 1 Semifinals

7 South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) at 3 Santa Fe (Alachua)