TAMPA — After squandering a late three-goal lead during Friday’s Class A region championship, Bradenton St. Stephen’s defeated Carrollwood Day 4-3 when freshman Jonathan Boyd netted the winner with 29 seconds remaining in the second overtime.
The Falcons (14-1-1) led 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining in regulation before the Patriots mounted a furious rally capped by Austin Ham’s equalizer with 73 seconds remaining.
St. Stephen’s took a 2-0 lead early in the first half when Boyd’s cross was knocked in by a CDS player, and Matthew Jones booted in a rebound from his own penalty kick. And when Jeremy Jackman scored from about 25 yards out less than five minutes into the second half, the Falcons’ eighth region title and first since 2010 looked all but assured.
The Patriots’ comeback began when John Frost’s header made it 3-1 with about 15 minutes remaining. And after the Falcons were called for a hand ball in the goal box, Miguel Ridruejo’s goal off a penalty kick trimmed Carrollwood’s deficit to 3-2 with just over three minutes to play.