Rays Drop 2-1 Heartbreaker in First Game at New Field

Friday night was a pretty big deal at Marco Island Academy. It was the opening of the brand-new Manta Ray Field, with its state-of-the-art Cool Turf field, training complex, locker rooms, and concessions area. Rays head coach Fernando Higuera thinks the moment may have been a little too big for his team as they dropped their first game on their home field, 2-1, when a last second header by Chase Polley was miraculously saved by the Donahue Catholic goalie.

“The loss was tough,” Higuera said, “at the end we almost tied it. On the very last play their goalie made a save, it was pure luck. Chase made a beautiful header. I was celebrating.”

"I think a little bit of the pressure got to us,” Higuera said of the extra attention the opening game at Manta Ray Field received. "It’s a lot of responsibility. Everybody was there. They looked off. They weren’t communicating. We did not play the way we know how to.”

In spite of it all, Higuera was proud of his team’s effort.

"They gave their all,” Higuera said. "They were exhausted. They ran. I can’t complain about their effort. I was really proud of them for that. But the mistakes really hurt us. Their two goals were on mistakes we made. To their credit they were ready. But those two goals were our fault.”

MIA’s lone goal was scored by freshman Alan Thomas on an assist from Polley.

Higuera said his team didn’t play the way they did in their last game, an exciting 4-3 win over Southwest Florida Christian.

“Against Southwest Florida Christian,” Higuera said, "we were amazing. I think it was the best game I’ve ever coached. A full 80 minutes of high intensity, quality passing, goal plays. We were very confident."  

Higuera likes his squad. 

“We have a really solid team,” he said, “with our seniors and our freshmen coming up. Jacob Dominguez is a freshman who has a lot of potential. We have Johnny Nolasco, another freshman, who is really good for the future. I think we’re going to be really good for a couple of years. We’ll see. Our two captains are Colby Chute and Ivan Harrison. We’re confident we can have a winning record."

Higuera is thrilled with the new facilities at MIA. He’s one of the longer tenured teachers at the school. He remembers when there were modular classrooms where Manta Ray Field now stands.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said. "Absolutely beautiful. Going from the modulars to where we are now, it’s just unbelievable. The field is beautiful. The facilities. It’s thanks to the donors and to the people who were there at the game. Without them we would not have this field. Mark Melvin (Leadership Advisory Board Member, Technology Director) is phenomenal. He’s always asking if there’s anything he can do. If there is anything we need. He made sure we were ready for this game, supervising all of the work. Making sure everything was ordered and we got it. It’s a good group. We’re lucky."