In a game that had everything – momentum swings, injuries, a late penalty kick and pure elation – the South Lake High School boys soccer team was able to claim its first-ever district championship with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over rival Lake Minneola in the FHSAA Class 6A, District 4 final.

The game was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Both teams traded goals in the first half for a 1-1 halftime score. The second half saw another pair of goals apiece, sending the contest to overtime knotted at 2-2.

The Eagles trailed 3-2 after the first overtime period and appeared on the ropes against a more experienced Lake Minneola squad that had dominated them 5-2 in both regular-season meetings. But Head Coach Josh Castleman’s adjustments turned the tide in the second 10-minute overtime stanza.

“We circled up between overtimes and just motivated them,” Castleman says. “Our guys were banged up, some limping, some coming off with injuries, but they found another gear.”

The comeback began when South Lake was fouled in the box, earning a penalty kick. Melvin Rivera calmly converted it to tie the score at 3-3, igniting the Eagles bench. Moments later, with time winding down, David Bustamante threaded a perfect through ball to Rivera, who outraced the oncoming keeper and chipped the ball into the empty net for what proved to be the game-winner, his second goal of the extra session.

South Lake then dug in defensively to hold off Lake Minneola’s desperate attacks, preserving the lead as the final whistle sparked pandemonium. Players sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate.

“It was pandemonium for a couple minutes,” Castleman says. “I’ve never seen the team so excited. When we took the lead, the kids went crazy, we couldn’t keep them on the bench.”

In the net, goalkeeper Jude Elmore was heroic with 9 saves on the evening keeping South Lake alive through the night. 

At midfield and defense, Joseph Lightfoot and Matthew Connelly were standout performers with 11 steals apiece, and Eduardo Lopez contributed 8 steals. 

Coach Castleman, a local product who played at Clermont High in the early 1990s, called the victory deeply personal. His assistant coach, Adel Ramirez, faced him as opponents back then. Coach Ramirez played at Mount Dora and both now guide South Lake, formed from the merger of Clermont and Groveland High. Castleman’s twin sisters won a district title with the girls team in 2000, and his oldest son Jayce Castleman, a senior on the roster, shared the moment.

“I sent the team a picture before the season of the championship banners in the gym, there wasn’t one for boys soccer,” Castleman says. “I told them we needed to fix that, and they did.”

He praised the program’s turnaround, crediting the school’s football success under head coach Brad Lord for inspiring a winning culture and highlighting the continuity of his staff including Coach Cortes (JV development), Coach Ramirez for the unwavering support and all the players who believed. 

Offensively this season for South Lake, Renzo Candito has 24 goals and 5 assists and David Bustamante has 18 goals with 11 assists.

“They have been our most productive,” Castleman says. “Defenders like Joseph Lightfoot, Matthew Connelly, Eduardo Lopez, and Josh Smith have been rock solid.”

The celebration continued long after the final whistle, with the team posing for photos with the trophy before heading to Buffalo Wild Wings to celebrate. 

For South Lake, this long-awaited breakthrough has been amazing to watch. The change in culture at South Lake High has been incredible.

South Lake will now contend for a State Championship in the FHSAA Playoffs in the coming week.

We also want to congratulate Lake Minneola High on their district runner-up finish.