ST. PETERSBURG -- Just as he and others had done many times before at Saint Stephen’s, Chris Scott held a boys soccer district championship in his hand Friday night.
This time, however, it felt a little different -- it felt a lot better.
Scott scored twice to lift Saint Stephen’s to a 5-0 win over St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep to clinch the Class 2A-District 10 crown. And while it was the program’s 12th title and eighth since 2000, it was the first since the Falcons (16-3-2) lost to Out-of-Door Academy in last season’s final.
That fact wasn’t lost on Scott, a senior who has been playing varsity soccer at Saint Stephen’s since he was an eighth-grader.
“Last year, right when we lost, we set a goal -- districts (next ) year, we’re gonna win it,” he said. “I think the whole team wasn’t going to accept less than district champions. And I think that drive is what gave us the power to win it.”
Scott’s foot played a role, too. He took a pass from Toby Howell and scored during the game’s 10th minute, and again with just under 15 minutes to play, arming the Falcons with a 3-0 lead.
Brett Messieh, Adam Vining and Matthew Jones also scored during Saint Stephen’s five-goal second half. Messieh added three assists, and Scott and Vining added one apiece.
Scott, Vining and Jones scored within five minutes each other, sealing the win and clinching a home game for the first round of the regional tournament.
The Falcons host Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin, the runner-up from District 9, at 4 p.m. Thursday.
“This team is a very young team, and they’ve played beyond their years. We’ve competed against some of the big high schools, and we haven’t ducked anybody,” said Falcons coach Marc Jones. “When we’re fit and healthy, this team can compete with anybody. And we’ve shown it.”
For players like Scott, there was no better time to show it than Friday’s district final.
“It’s huge for us, and we’re really excited for regionals,” Scott said. “This is the sweetest. ... We play for each other, and I couldn’t ask for more. This is a great team, and I just have a great time playing with them on the field.”
