Raiders soccer team makesstateplayoffs

It didn't take long for Plant City to realize it would be headed to the playoffs and, unfortunately for Durant, the other alternative came to pass. Plant City jumped all over East Bay on Jan. 26 in the semifinals of the District 5A-8 boys soccer tournament, defeating the Indians 3-1. That result placed the Raiders back into the state playoffs, where they will begin play Thursday night. Durant had a chance to join the Raiders but was outperformed by Newsome in the other district semifinal. Newsome won by a 3-1 score. Both teams eliminated in the semifinals were playoff squads in 2009. Durant saw its season end with a 9-5-4 mark. Newsome is in the playoffs for the first time. The Raiders got goals by A.J. Black, Jorge Martinez and Marcus Svensson against East Bay. Black's tally came just a few minutes into the contest. Tuesday's victory improved the Raiders to 13-1-2 on the season.

Newsome defeated Plant City 2-1in the district final Friday, the Wolves scoring the winning goal with one minute remaining, right after Black had evened the score at 1-1. That means on Thursday the Raiders have to trek two hours to Ocala for the start of the playoffs. The opponent is Forest High.

Forest won the 5A-7championship match, edging Brooksville Central 3-2 after needing eight rounds of penalty kicks to decide it. Forest is 21-3 but has never won a playoff game, despite making the postseason nine times in the last 15 years.

The Plant City-Forest winner gets the Newsome-Central winner in Tuesday's regional semifinals. Of the four teams, only Plant City and Central have won a playoff game (one each), so the Raiders have a good chance at making a run.

If Plant City wins Thursday, it would host the second-round match should Central beat Newsome. Should the Raiders reach the regional finals, the opponent would be one of four Polk County teams: Haines City and George Jenkins won their districts, with the respective runners-up being Ridge Community and Auburndale.

Plant City has been to the playoffs four times in the last seven seasons.