By Lynn Ramsey - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY
St. Brendan High School's boys soccer team celebrate after winning the school's first ever state championship in that sport with a 1-0 defeat of Orlando's Bishop Moore, Feb. 24, 2022.
MIAMI | St. Brendan High juniors Alex Rodriguez and Gustavo Matheus clinched school history with a strong offense. Senior Pipe Rodriguez and the Sabres’ strong defense ensured that their historic season ended in a state championship.
Alex Rodriguez scored in the 50th minute, and Pipe Rodriguez made eight saves to help the Sabres outlast Orlando Bishop Moore 1-0 on Feb. 24, 2022 in the FHSAA Class 4A boys soccer state final at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
The Sabres, whose previous best finish was a 2020 region quarterfinal finish in their only previous playoff appearance, had to withstand being outshot 16-5 by the Hornets. Bishop Moore outshot the Sabres 12-2 in the second half.
Photographer: COURTESY
Alex Rodriguez, who scored the winning goal, celebrates the first state championship of St. Brendan High School's boys soccer team. They defeated Orlando's Bishop Moore 1-0, Feb. 24, 2022.
“We knew they were very good offensively,” St. Brendan coach Davide Favaro said. “We had to pay a lot of attention on defense. Our defense and keeper were very strong.”
Matheus set up the Sabres’ only goal with a through pass to Rodriguez. Favaro said that Rodriguez struggled to control the pass but ended up shooting from outside the box to score the goal. “It was a great goal,” Favaro said. “I watched the video several times, and it was still amazing.”
Pipe Rodriguez then helped the defense cap a shutout playoff run. St. Brendan did not allow a goal in the playoffs and posted nine shutouts all season. “He’s been amazing throughout the whole season,” Favaro said. “He’s a senior. He has a lot of experience. He’s a great leader inside the field.”
Favaro said junior Roberto Corbisiero also shined as a defensive midfielder against Bishop Moore while getting help from Hiroshi Arai, Jason Barnett, Hazime Arai and Samuel Quiroga.
THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING
The Sabres started seven juniors in the state final – many of whom started as freshmen on the 2019-20 team. Alex Rodriguez led the Sabres in goals as a freshman for a 13-3 team. He pulled off the feat again in a COVID-shortened 6-1-1 2020-21 season, scoring a team-high nine goals.
This year, Rodriguez had 27 goals. Matheus added 15 goals and two assists. Favaro said the team benefited from three years together, and team members felt they could do something special.
Photographer: COURTESY
Brothers Hiroshi and Hazime Arai pose with the state championship trophy after helping St. Brendan High School's boys soccer team win the school's first ever title in that sport, with a 1-0 defeat of Orlando's Bishop Moore, Feb. 24, 2022.
“Obviously, no one thinks about winning states,” Favaro said. “We knew we could do something special. By winning games, you get the confidence. You get the awareness of your abilities. Winning games built the confidence of the team.”
St. Brendan rolled through the regular season, not tasting defeat until a 2-1 loss to Pinecrest Gulliver Prep in the District 16-4A final. Favaro said at that point, the Sabres began to believe they could compete against top teams. Their final record was 17-1-3.
St. Brendan’s loss turned Region 4 into upset central, with the Sabres taking center stage. With St. Brendan seeded sixth, the Sabres had two of their three regional-tournament games on the road. St. Brendan won at Somerset 2-0, defended homefield 3-0 against Delray Beach American Heritage, then won the Region 4 title with a 1-0 victory at Cardinal Gibbons.
The road show continued in the state semifinal, when St. Brendan routed Arcadia DeSoto 5-0. Alex Rodriguez scored three goals against DeSoto, while Danny Reyes and Quiroga also scored to put the Sabres in the state final.
Favaro said the Sabres began seeing a state title as a possibility after their victory against Gibbons. “We won against Cardinal Gibbons, a super team,” Favaro said. “After that, there were only two games left. We won the semifinal, then after that we say, ‘We’re in the final. Now is the time we can win something.’”
Favaro also said the game provided several opportunities to grow in faith. He said he looked to connect the team building with the faith experience. Athletes attended Mass with the rest of the school and received the sacrament of reconciliation once a month on Mondays.
St. Brendan students also went on retreats. Alex Rodriguez ended up going on a retreat the week before the region final. Favaro said the students were blessed to be able to go on retreats.
“I’m very happy for them,” he said. “Beside winning state, I saw them growing as persons. I saw their maturation throughout the years. That’s what stays with me: All of them will be amazing citizens.”
Photographer: COURTESY | Benigno Rodriguez
St. Brendan High School's boys soccer team celebrate after winning the school's first ever state championship in that sport with a 1-0 defeat of Orlando's Bishop Moore, Feb. 24, 2022.
