Miami Columbus and Palm Harbor Advance to Florida 7A Soccer Championship
DELAND, FL – Both Orlando-area Class 7A boys soccer teams, Windermere and Seminole, saw their state championship hopes dashed on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in the state semifinals. Miami Columbus defeated Windermere 4-1, even as Palm Harbor University School overcame Seminole with a 3-1 victory.
Miami Columbus Overpowers Windermere
Miami Columbus proved too strong for Windermere, securing a 4-1 win. Windermere managed a late goal in the 77th minute from William Da Silva Filho, narrowing the gap to 3-1, but Columbus quickly responded with a goal from Pax Cortizas, sealing their victory. Columbus had difficulty with offsides calls, accumulating seven in the first half, but ultimately controlled possession and won key second-ball opportunities. Windermere coach Lou Romao acknowledged that Columbus played with greater intensity and deserved the win. Windermere finished the season with a record of 19-2-5, having previously won 10 consecutive games.
Seminole Falls to Palm Harbor Amidst Referee Concerns
Seminole’s match against Palm Harbor University School was marked by controversy, with Seminole coach Francesco Cipolla expressing frustration over questionable officiating. Palm Harbor took a 2-0 lead in the first 60 minutes, with goals from Mohamed Teieddine and Landon Wolf. Seminole fought back, with Youseff Faid scoring to make it 2-1, assisted by Nathaniel Melendez. However, a series of disputed calls, including one where the referee admitted not knowing the reason for the decision, hampered Seminole’s momentum. A late goal by Palm Harbor, following a play where Seminole players believed the ball was out of bounds, finalized the score at 3-1. Despite the loss, Seminole, a No. 5 seed from Region 1, had a successful season, exceeding expectations according to Coach Cipolla.
Championship Match Set
Miami Columbus will face the winner of the Seminole versus Palm Harbor University School match in the Class 7A state championship game on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 7:00 PM. MSN reports that the championship game will be played at 1 p.m.
Columbus is seeking their first state title since 2014. The Miami Herald details Columbus’ dominant semifinal performance.
Yahoo Sports also covered the results of the semifinals.