Nolasco’s two goals launch Bishop Moore into 4A final

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Diego Nolasco Troconis scored two goals, and the Bishop Moore defense posted its 20th shutout to help the Hornets oust Lakeland McKeel 2-0 in a Class 4A state semifinal.

Bishop Moore (23-2-1) booked a return to the Class 4A state final at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Hornets will face seven-time champion Pinecrest Gulliver Prep, a 3-0 winner vs. Yulee. Bishop Moore, which lost to Miami St. Brendan, 1-0, last year, is seeking its fifth title and first since 2000.

“That was a sting of a loss last year,” Bishop Moore coach Tom Hage said. “The lesson learned is that we have to take advantage of these opportunities, because they’re not always going to come. God bless these kids, because that was a painful loss. That was a game we should’ve won but didn’t.”

McKeel coach Tanner Adams said before the game the Wildcats did not want a repeat of their 2022 region semifinal clash. In that game, the Hornets scored two goals in the first six minutes before winning 6-0.

Hence, McKeel took a defensive stance most of the first half.

The Hornets took advantage, pressuring McKeel nearly the entire first half. They forced Wildcats keeper Nate Miller to make six first-half saves. McKeel defenders, including Drew Synder, intercepted several cross attempts.

Hage pointed to the Hornets’ depth. He asked players to go all out 10 minutes at a time, and he said that is what let Bishop Moore apply constant pressure.

“I think that’s one of the strongest points on our team,” said Bishop Moore midfielder Jake Ferris. “We have so much depth. We have kids who can play the full 80 minutes. We have kids who can shoot the ball. We have kids who can defend.”

The Hornets’ constant pressure paid off. Miller punched out a corner kick, and another Wildcats defender cleared a Bishop Moore shot. But Brandon Salcedo drove back into the right side of the penalty area, forcing Miller to make a diving save. Nolasco Troconis collected the rebound and beat the keeper lower left to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead with 22:01 left in the half.

“It was a team effort,” Nolasco Troconis said. “The first one thanks to Brandon who shot and I was just there for the rebound.”

Mario Amal almost made it 2-0 Hornets, but his header bounced off the ground and bounced off the crossbar.

McKeel tested the Hornets a couple times in the first half. Striker Calvin Steele challenged Bishop Moore’s defenders. The Wildcats’ best chance came when Alexander Alejo sent a pass into the box, but the pass was just a little long for his teammate.

The Wildcats began to apply pressure early in the second half. However, Bishop Moore withstood McKeel’s pressure, then took advantage of numbers to test the Wildcats defense more.

Spencer Moler was a thorn in McKeel’s side most of the night, getting several steals and controlling the midfield. Moler set up Nolasco for a goal that put the Hornets up 2-0 with 13:20 left. Moler stole it, then passed left to Nolasco, who then beat the keeper lower right from just outside the 6-yard box.

Nolasco said that Moler sent him a great pass.

“I knew he was going to play it across to the other midfielder, because they were doing it the whole game,” Moler said. “So I read the play, got through, played him the ball. It was a great moment.”

The Hornets will focus on Gulliver Prep. Moler said the Hornets’ chances rely on winning individual battles. Hage said that Miami teams challenge their foes with physical play.

Nolasco said that this year’s Hornets team is more of a family.

“It’s thanks to the team. Without every single one of us playing effort, without the team we are nothing,” Nolasco. “We learned last year to be patient, even if we go down, if we get a goal scored on us or something bad happens, we’re a team. We build each other up.”