Port Orange Spruce Creek wins Mike Stone Invitational, retains No. 1 spot
By Official Florida FC
Port Orange Spruce Creek lost its first match of the season on Dec. 28; however, the Hawks showed their mettle by winning three matches in two days to win the 25th Mike Stone Invitational on Dec. 30.
Senior forward Jadon Swartzlander scored the opening goal in Spruce Creek’s 2-0 win over New Smyrna Beach in the final en route to be named Tournament MVP.
The results over the holidays ensured Spruce Creek remained the No. 1 team in Florida in the FHSAA rankings that were released Tuesday afternoon. Spruce Creek beat Sanford Seminole 2-0 on Tuesday night to improve to 15-1-1.
The rest of the statewide top 10 featured the same teams, but in a different order. Panama City Beach Arnold jumped four places to No. 3 in the statewide poll following a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Biloxi (Miss.) High School on Dec. 30. The Marlins (10-0-1) are unbeaten in their last 38 matches.
Arnold’s run is believed to be the longest boys soccer unbeaten run in the state in nine years. Weston Cypress Bay unbeaten run approached 40 games from 2011-2013.
This year’s Cypress Bay squad improved to 10-1 following Tuesday’s win over Davie Western.
| Rank | School Name | Class Rank |
Rating | Strength of Schedule |
Record | Class | Region | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Orange Spruce Creek | 1 | 22.480 | 11.40 | 13-1-1 | 7A | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Tampa Prep | 1 | 22.566 | 8.81 | 8-0-1 | 3A | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Panama City Beach Arnold | 1 | 21.359 | 6.51 | 9-0-1 | 5A | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Bradenton Lakewood Ranch | 2 | 20.705 | 7.05 | 10-0-1 | 7A | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Naples Golden Gate | 2 | 19.970 | 5.90 | 9-0-1 | 5A | 4 | 13 |
| 6 | Tallahassee Chiles | 1 | 19.739 | 8.20 | 8-1 | 6A | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | New Smyrna Beach | 3 | 19.730 | 9.33 | 10-1-2 | 5A | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | Jacksonville Mandarin | 3 | 19.510 | 6.60 | 9-1 | 7A | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Weston Cypress Bay | 4 | 19.407 | 7.24 | 9-1 | 7A | 4 | 14 |
| 10 | Tampa Jesuit | 4 | 18.870 | 7.76 | 8-1-1 | 5A | 3 | 10 |
Classification Rankings
Class 7A
1. Port Orange Spruce Creek (13-1-1)
2. Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (10-0-1)
3. Jacksonville Mandarin (9-1)
Class 6A
1. Tallahassee Chiles (8-1)
2. Niceville (7-1-1)
3. Winter Park Lake Howell (8-0-1)
Class 5A
1 . Panama City Beach Arnold(9-0-1)
2. Naples Golden Gate (9-0-1)
3. New Smyrna Beach (10-1-2)
Class 4A
1. Miami Gulliver Prep (7-0-2)
2. The Villages Charter (5-1-1)
3. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (9-1-2)
Class 3A
1. Tampa Prep (8-0-1)
2. Winter Park Trinity Prep (8-0-0)
3. Jacksonville Bolles (7-1)
Class 2A
1. Fort Myers Canterbury (7-4-2)
2. Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-0-1)
3. Miami Riviera Prep (6-1)
