High School Soccer Championships Coming to EFSC

Eastern Florida State College’s new Melbourne Campus soccer facility will be the site of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) girls and boys state championship semifinals and finals in February.

The girls tournament will involve 20 teams from throughout the state in five classes – 5A through 1A – from Wednesday through Saturday Feb. 5-8.

The boys tournament also will involve 20 teams in the same five classes from Wednesday through Saturday Feb. 12-15.

“We are very excited to host the boys and girls state championships for the FHSAA,” said Eastern Florida Director of Athletics and head women’s soccer coach Jeff Carr.

“It says a lot about our top notch facility and how the whole staff is excited about hosting this tremendous event with the support of our President Dr. Jim Richey and the Board of Trustees. We hope this is just the beginning of hosting this and other big events for years to come.”

The Melbourne Campus facility also hosted the NJCAA Women’s Division I Soccer National Championship Tournament in November and will do so through 2016.

Hosts for the high school tournament include Eastern Florida, Melbourne High School, Melbourne Central Catholic High School and Space Coast Sports Promotions. Melbourne High was the site of the girls and boys finals in February. Melbourne High’s girls are the defending Class 4A champions.

Admission will be $9 per session with information on parking to be announced.

Bright House Sports Network will carry the state finals live on channel 47 and HD channel 1147. The finals also will air on Cox Sports Television and Comcast Charter Sports Southeast. The semifinals and the finals will also be shown live via webcast by PlayOn! Sports at www.nfhsnetwork.com.

In 2013, only the finals were played at the host site. The girls finals day drew 3,287 people – thanks in part to Melbourne High’s presence in the 4A title game - while the boys final day drew 1,993 according to FHSAA figures.