GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The good news for Clay High boys soccer coach Wale Leyimu was that his Blue Devils won their game at St. Johns Country Day School 6-1. The somewhat bad news was that the Blue Devils streak of seven straight games with shutout wins stopped.

"We have been getting great play from everyone from the goalie to the forwards," said Leyimu, who guided the Blue Devils to a region quarterfinal finish last year (11-4-3, 3-1 loss to Booker T. Washington), then lost all of his forwards; Jack Wilkening, Aidan Pinnix, Isaac Espino and Anthony Lopez, to graduation. "The fact that we have seven shutouts means that all phases of the attack; the back line of defense, the midfield and the forwards are keeping the pressure forward and that prevents teams from attacking our goal."
In 2024, Clay had no scorers in double figures with Pinnix top goal-getter with eight goals and Espino with seven.
"We always have a tough defensive strategy," said Leyimu.

With rival Ridgeview the lone loss on the Blue Devils docket, a 4-3 game on November 13, Clay, who beat Ridgeview 4-0 on December 9, has popped off their string of shutouts wins with the most recent a 3-0 win over Ponte Vedra.

"That game was about as perfect a game by everyone as I have ever seen," said Leyimu. "They were ranked fifth in 5A with us at 21st. That's a big deal for the boys."

After the win, and after the St. Johns win, Clay moved up one spot to 21 while Ponte Vedra dropped to eight.
"We never worry about the rankings," said Leyimu. "The boys just show up and play hard against whoever has the other jersey on."

For the scoring end of the season, Leyumi noted that forward Louvens Joassaint has punched in 16 goals for the year with the scoring being shared with Gavin Tenga and Marvin Martinez all finding the nets.

"Tenga and Louvens have been the main shooters up front," said Leyimu. "Alex Weiss is strong on the defensive end with Ian Alvarado back there also."

Clay comes back in January with Oakleaf (4-5-1), a surging Orange Park with new head coach Rebecca Cannon Jollow (see story), Matanzas (8-3-1), Bishop Snyder (3-6-0) and Keystone Heights (9-4-1) the season finale in a rivalry game that could pit two strong teams from the county against each other.

County Wrap

Over the holiday, Fleming Island High's boys soccer (9-1-4) registered a 2-0 win over Gainesville after a week that included a 3-1 loss to Ponte Vedra, a win over Orange Park (3-0) and a tie with Atlantic Coast (0-0). Fleming Island is led by sophomore Ryker Dailey with 11 goals with Ethan Medlock adding 10.
The Golden Eagles, ranked seventh in 5A, get roughed up in January with Leon on January 4, Bartram Trail on January 8 and Oakleaf on January 14.

Class 5A Boys Soccer
1. Booker T. Washington (Pensacola), (9-0-1)
2. Jesuit (Tampa) (8-1-1)
3. Mariner (14-0)
4. Pembroke Pines Charter (9-0-2)
5. Osceola (12-2-0)
6. New Smyrna Beach (5-0-3)
7. Fleming Island (9-1-4)
8. Ponte Vedra (7-2-0)
12. Beachside (8-3-1)
20. Clay (10-1-0)

Keystone Heights boys soccer (9-4-1, ranked 35th in 3A) ended 2024 with a 2-1 win over Middleburg and returns with Newberry on January 8 and P.K. Yonge (10-2-3) on January 10. Senior Aaron Wiley leads the Indians with 25 goals with Anthony Brunt hitting for 11 scores.
Middleburg (5-9-1) finished 2024 with a 2-1 loss to Keystone Heights and returns with a road trip to Ridgeview on January 7 then finishes with Nease, Orange Park and P.K. Yonge.
Senior Xavier Abuhl leads the Broncos with seven goals in 13 games.
Ridgeview (4-6-0), had a 2-0 over Bishop Snyder in January but losses to Menendez, Clay and Orange Park in December.
St. Johns Country Day School (2-6-0) has Fletcher, St. Joseph Academy (9-4-0), Ridgeview, Menendez and Harvest Community in January to finish their season.