Legendary SC high school soccer coach Phil Savitz’s last game is a semis heartbreaker

Phil Savitz didn’t get the storybook ending to his career he hoped, but there was no disappointment in his voice Friday night.

Stratford defeated Savirz’s River Bluff squad 5-4 in penalty kicks in the Class 5A Lower State boys soccer semifinal at The Swamp.

With the win, the Knights advance to Monday’s Lower State championship match against Wando.

The loss ended Savitz’s 45-year coaching career that saw him become the winningest boys soccer coach in SC history. He won a state-record 824 matches and 15 state championships with stops at Irmo and River Bluff.

“I hate that it was in penalty kicks, but I could not be prouder of these guys,” Savitz said. “I am disappointed for them but not in them. I really believe we could have won the state championship if a penalty kick went in, but it is just not meant to be.”

Savitz announced in October that he was going to be retiring and his longtime assistant at Irmo and River Bluff Trad Miller would be replacing him. So Savitz had been preparing for this moment.. He just hoped it would happen, hoisting a state championship trophy.

“I have been prepared for this moment and would have loved to have been on the state championship stage with these guys,” Savitz said.

“I am disappointed for them just like any other team. It is my last game in high school but to go out with a group like that, I will take it whenever we go out.”

Things were aligned for a storybook ending to a career.. The Gators defeated Chapin, 2-0, in their final regular-season match to win the Region 4-5A championship and secure homefield advantage to the championship.

River Bluff survived a tough match Wednesday when it rallied and defeated West Ashley in penalty kicks to move on in the playoffs.

It looked like River Bluff was going to pull out another thriller on Friday. The Gators had a few missed opportunities in the four overtime periods before going to penalty kicks. And River Bluff went up 3-2 in penalty kicks on Alejandro Romero’s shot and needed one stop to clinch the matchup.

But Stratford’s Nathan Arroyo tied it 3-3. After each teams scored on its next shot, Stratford goalkeeper Enzo Mori came up with a big stop then Daniel Martinez hit the game-winner for the Knights.

After the match, Savitz went around to his players, consoling those that were crying and gathered his team at midfield for his post-game speech which lasted about five minutes. After that, he was joined by his wife, children and grandchildren and family members.

“We will go back and commiserate, hug, love and celebrate an amazing fortuitous career,” Savitz said. “And a team that couldn’t give us any more love, fight and excitement than this team did.”

Friday’s Area Playoff Schedule

Baseball

Class 5A

Blythewood at Hillcrest

Class 4A

Greer at Airport

May River at AC Flora

Wade Hampton at Lugoff-Elgin

SCISA 4A

Ben Lippen at Laurence Manning

Cardinal Newman at Wilson Hall

Hammond at Trinity Collegiate

Softball

Class 5A

Lexington at Woodmont

Mauldin at Dutch Fork

Blythewood at Byrnes

Fort Dorchester at Chapin

White Knoll at Carolina Forest

Class 3A

Beaufort at Swansea

Gilbert at Hanahan

Loris at Camden

Brookland-Cayce at Battery Creek

Class 2A

Abbeville at Fairfield Central

Blacksburg at Saluda

Batesburg-Leesville 17, Columbia 1

Keenan at Mid-Carolina

Ninety-Six at Gray Collegiate

Liberty at Pelion

North Central at Barnwell

Soccer

Class 5A Boys

Stratford at River Bluff

Class 3A Boys

Hanahan at Camden

Class 2A Boys

Greer Middle College at Gray Collegiate

Greenville Tech at Batesburg-Leesville