Island Cup soccer tournament another success in Gulf Shores

Both Dolphin squads finish as runners-up, Lady Makos win silver finals

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 3/13/23

GULF SHORES — Island Cup action once again took over the soccer pitches at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex last weekend with top teams in action Friday and Saturday.

Both Dolphin squads finished …

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Island Cup soccer tournament another success in Gulf Shores

Both Dolphin squads finish as runners-up, Lady Makos win silver finals

Posted

GULF SHORES — Island Cup action once again took over the soccer pitches at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex last weekend with top teams in action Friday and Saturday.

Both Dolphin squads finished as runners-up in their bracket, and the girls' team from Orange Beach won the silver final all with 2-1 records.

The Gulf Shores girls' team opened with wins over Austin and Moody on Friday to earn a spot in Saturday's gold finals against Class 7A Baker who used a pair of first-half goals to win the top girls' bracket.

Orange Beach split its Friday contests with a loss to Baker and a win over Elberta to land in the girls' silver finals against Alma-Bryant where the Makos prevailed by a goal while punching three classifications above their own.

The Dolphins' boys' squad earned a Friday win over Moody before taking down Marbury in its first Saturday game thanks in part to a pair of goals from junior Talan Galvan.

In the boys' Class 5A bracket, the lone battle of unbeatens was reserved for Saturday night and pitted Guntersville against Gulf Shores who entered the match ranked second and fifth in that week's Alabama High School Athletic Association rankings. In the final contest of the tournament, AJ Shumate provided his third hat trick in as many games to help lift the Wildcats.

Baldwin County was also represented at the Island Cup by both teams from Elberta and Robertsdale's boys' team. The Elberta boys' team went 1-1, the girls' team from Elberta went 0-1-1 and the Golden Bears finished 0-3.

Other big Friday scores

In non-Island Cup action Friday, the Daphne Trojans claimed a rivalry win over the Fairhope Pirates to improve to 2-0 in area play and both Spanish Fort squads earned shutout wins.

In the first meeting of Eastern Shore rivals in Class 7A Area 2, the Trojans got a leg up on the Pirates — who entered the contest ranked sixth and seventh respectively — by a 2-1 margin where Noah Miller was named the Fight Like Adam Man of the Match. Daphne and Fairhope are scheduled to meet again on the Pirates' home pitch April 14.

The boys' team from Spanish Fort took down Saraland 8-0 and the girls' team beat St. Luke's 4-0 in non-area action.

Kuhen Kumaresan paced the Toros with two goals and two assists to complement Colin Spuler's four goals. Emma Kate Wilson was the Lady Toros' Woman of the Match after they improved to 8-0-1 on the season where all wins have come via shutout.

Other tournament action

The Daphne girls' team traveled to Oxford for tournament action last weekend and came away as the top overall team with an undefeated record and a plus-eight goal differential after wins over Pell City (5-0) and Smiths Station (3-0).

Alexia Charqueno scored three goals, Ellen Lassere potted two goals and Haile Moorer, Tiyana Richardson and Jordan Avera all added a goal each to the Trojans' tournament total.

Fresh rankings

In the state coaches' poll updated Sunday, March 12, boys' teams from Daphne (No. 5), Spanish Fort (No. 7) and Gulf Shores (No. 4) all improved one spot while the girls’ team from St. Michael Catholic remained atop the Class 4A rankings. Also on the girls’ circuit, Spanish Fort climbed two spots to No. 8 this week.

In the season’s first Super Poll regardless of classification, the Trojans from Daphne debuted at No. 9 with a 7-0-1 record entering this week of play.

The Bayside Academy Admirals, defending champions from Class 3A now competing in 4A, checked in at No. 10 in their new class.

Below are local teams ranked in the AHSAA coaches poll updated March 12.

GIRLS

Class 6A
8. Spanish Fort (8-0-1)

Class 5A
10. Gulf Shores (9-7)

Class 4A
1. St. Michael (8-2)
9. Orange Beach (5-1)

BOYS

Super Poll

9. Daphne (7-0-1)

Class 7A
5. Daphne (7-0-1)
7. Fairhope (7-1-1)

Class 6A
7. Spanish Fort (10-3)

Class 5A
4. Gulf Shores (11-5)

Class 4A
10. Bayside Academy (4-1-2)