4:15 p.m.—FULL TIME
The game goes to Berkeley 3-0. A well-deserved win by the Bucs, who pretty much dominated the match over Pine Crest. The Panthers had their moments and could have scored a goal, but they didn’t have the speed or firepower of Berkeley. The nationally-ranked Bucs, now 24-2, face a formidable team in tomorrow’s finals, Jacksonville Bolles (18-6), at 2:30 p.m. here at Pepin Stadium. The main concern for Bucs coach Tim Cooper right npow is the health of striker T.J. Roehn. He came off with 20 minutes to play with a sprained ankle. It didn’t look too serious but his status for Saturday’s game is, for now, questionable.

For a photo gallery of today’s match, click here : http://snap.tbo.com/galleries/index.php?id=347928

GOAL! BERKELY PREP—ERI JACOBS, 65TH MINUTE
Berkeley Prep makes it 3-0 on an unassited goal by Eri Jacobs. He tracks down a 50/50 ball in the 18-yard box and slots it left with a low, hard shot. The Bucs could defend now but they’re still sending people forward.

3:52 p.m.—61st minute

Berkeley striker T.J. Roehn is tackled hard on the right touchline and appears to have sprained his ankle. He is helped off the pitch and it looks like he may not return the remainder of the match.

3:50 p.m.—59th minute
Pine Crest nearly scored on a free kick from outside the area. The kick headed to the upper 90 but Jenkins was there to knock it away. But Pine Crest’s Matt Silverman got a head on the rebound, and that went just wide of goal. Clearly, set pieces are the Panthers’ best attack today.

3:46 p.m.—55th minute

Led by Joey Rosati in the midfield, Berkeley has settled down and seems to have regained control of the tempo. They’ve gone back to attacking from the wings and crossing balls into the middle. Nothing too dangerous for Pine Crest goalie Wyatt Zeller, but the pressure is thewre.
3:35 p.m.—45th minute

Got to hand it to Pine Crest in these opening minutes of the second half. The Panthers are playing with a sense of urgency and putting the pressure on the Bucs’ defense. In fact, they have forced Berkeley keeper Alex Jenkins to come out and make a couple of saves. There’s been a couple of dangerous crosses into the box by Pine Crest and some good passing outside the area.

3:20 p.m.—Halftime

It’s halftime and Berkeley is in control with a 2-0 lead. Of course, the soccer cliche states that 2-0 is “the most dangerous lead in soccer,” but the way Pine Crest is playing, I would say 2-0 is fairly safe. The Panthers simply are not defending well and not putting together a consistent attack. Berkeley could go into the bunker from here on out but I would imagine coach Cooper is telling them “keep doing what you’re doing” and maintain the pressure up front. The Bucs have been very effective on the wings with Roehn, Jacobs, Rosati and Post taking good runs along the touch lines and crossing the ball into the box. If they keep doing that and Pine Crest continues to mark poorly in the 18, Berkeley should score some more goals in the second half.

3:17 p.m.—38th minute

Just as I mentioned the word “counter,” Pine Crest managed one, with midfielder Kyle Burgs springing down the left flank and getting free of the Berkeley defense. His shot from 18 yards had some pace, but went wide past the far post.

3:10 p.m.—35th minute

Berkely is really dominating the run of play this half. The Bucs just have too much speed for Pine Crest, which has only managed three shots on goal—and two of those came off set pieces. That’s not to say the Panthers can’t score. They have shown an ability to counter but they’ve had trouble stringing more than two passes together. That final pass into the 18-yard box keeps eluding them.

GOAL! BERKELEY PREP—T.J. ROEHN, 20TH MINUTE
It’s 2-0 Berkeley Prep as T.J. Roehn scores an unassited goal. Again, Pine Crest’s defense was caught napping as Roehn collected a loose ball just outside the 18-yard box and blasted it to the left post past a helpless Wyatt Zeller in goal. Pine Crest have to pull one back soon—and start defending—or this could get out of hand. For Roehn, it’s his team-leading 18th goal of the season. And it was a spectacular one.

2:50 p.m.—17th minute
Berkeley has had the run of play since the goal and T.J. Roehn and Julian Crockett nearly hooked up to make it 2-0. Roehn broke free on the left and crossed a ball low across the 6-yard box and at the far post, Crockett hit it just wide.
Just before that, Pine Crest’s best chance came off a free kick from outside the 18-yard box. The cross was good, but the header by Freitas went over the bar.

GOAL! BERKELEY PREP—J.D. POST, 10TH MINUTE

A great ball from Eri Jacobs across the face of the goal finds J.D. Post unmarked for a relatively easy knock-in. Some poor defending by Pine Crest but a well-executed play by Berkeley’s attack. It’s a 1-0 lead for the Bucs.

2:35 p.m.—2nd minute

We’re underway. Here’s your starters:

Berkeley Prep : Mark Biddinger (D), J.D. Post (MF), Eri Jacobs (MF), Zach Birc (D), T.J. Roehn (F), Julian Crockett (F), Matt Felman (MF), Kevin Harvey (MF), Joey Rosati (MF), Steve Biddinger (D), Alex Jenkins (GK).
Pine Crest :  Matt Silverman (MF), Zach Wilson (MF), Kyle Burgs (MF), John Perez (D), Matt Bedick (D),Matt O’Connor (MF), Avery Wonacott (D), Geo Freitas (F), Alex Neita (D), Wyatt Zeller (GK).

2:20 p.m.

We’re going to delay the start of the Berkeley Prep-Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest match because the last match went to overtime. Jacksonville Bolles won that 3-2 over Lake Highland Prep.

1:30 p.m.

It’s a great day for soccer at the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium. It should be near 60 degrees for the 2:15 p.m. kickoff of Berkeley Prep vs. Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest in the Class 3A boys state soccer semifinals. That means good conditions for coach Tim Cooper’s Berkeley Prep side that likes to send numbers forward into the attack.

The Buccaneers last won the state title in 2004, in Fort Lauderdale, under former coach and Berkeley legend, Dave Zimmerman. “Coach Z” guided four Bucs squads to the top of the podium during his tenure. Coach Z is actually here and will on the sidelines on the Bucs bench. He’s been helping oout coaching goalkeepers this season. Maybe he’ll bring a little of that good luck he’s enjoyed four times at this stage—and expertise.

The Berkeley squad has arrived safely and according to Coach Cooper, everyone’s healthy and ready to roll. The wind is definitely a factor, gusting out of the north in excess of 25 mph. Whoever attacks the south goal will have an advantage.

Stay tuned to TBO for a live blog and photos from the Berkeley-Pine Crest match, as well as the 5A state semifinals showdowns between Palm Harbor University and Coconut Creek Monarch (5 p.m.) and Freedom vs. Niceville (7:15 p.m.).