Prep boys soccer: Sebastian Joffre powers Gulf Coast into Class 4A state championship

This time, the Gulf Coast boys soccer team took care of business in regulation.

After disposing of East Lake in a penalty shootout Wednesday in the regional final, the Sharks scored twice in regulation to defeat Forest Hill 2-0 and advance to the Class 4A state championship game. Gulf Coast won the state championship in 2013 and has reached the final four in four of the last six seasons.

"I'm extremely proud of my kids right now," Gulf Coast coach Alan Scott said. "You have to give Forest Hill a lot of credit, they made it very difficult for us in the first half, I thought we played a very good first half, but obviously it only counts on the scoreboard."

Boys soccer: Gulf Coast headed to 4A semifinal

Powering the Sharks to their first state championship appearance since 2016, Sebastian Joffre scored a goal and had an assist in the Sharks victory.

"My coach came to me at halftime when we were tied and told me 'now is your time, so go do it, and finish it,'" Joffre said. "I'm glad I scored and got an assist. I'm just happy to be back in the state championship."

Joffre got the Sharks on the board in the 42nd minute, settling a cross from Miguel Fletes in the box and burying it in the back of the net.

Moments before the second half water break, Joffre danced around three Falcons' defenders into the box and found Frankie Rodrigues, who slotted home his pass across the net to double the Sharks' lead. 

With a chance to avenge their 2016 state championship loss and win their first state title since 2013, the Sharks will face Fletcher in DeLand on Saturday.

Boys soccer: Sharks on a mission in final four

"I'm ecstatic that our sophomores who are now seniors get a chance to go back and redo their wrongs," Scott said. "They get another chance at winning a state championship and that's a beautiful thing."

In 2016, the Sharks lost 5-2 to Belen Jesuit in the state championship.

A member of that team that finished as state runner-up, Joffre thinks the experience of losing that game will benefit the Sharks this time around.

"I think it's going to help us a lot," Joffre said. "We remember that feeling from when we lost two years ago, but right now, we're just happy to be back."

Despite facing strong efforts at goal from the Sharks all throughout the first half, Forest Hill goalkeeper Ian Rouille kept the game scoreless going into the half with six saves.

"Believe it or not I know that keeper really well, and I knew he was the best player on their team," Scott said. "I told the kids, 'he's going to make saves to keep his team in it, so you just got to keep plugging along.'"

In the second half, the Sharks found their answer to get past Rouille and scored two goals to secure their trip back to the state championship.