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Springstead Shakes Off Injury Woes

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: December 10, 2008

SPRING HILL - Just how banged up was Springstead High going into Wednesday's home match versus Wiregrass Ranch?

Consider that the Lady Eagles had to call up a couple of junior varsity players just so they could have two players on the bench.

With the county's leading scorer, forward Ashley Walker, sitting out because of injury, along with defender Ashley Southall and forward Jacqueline Alexander, Springstead had to do battle in this Class 4A, District 8 contest minus three key players.

No matter. The Lady Eagles took advantage of enough opportunities to pull out a 2-1 victory at Booster Stadium.

"It was a good game," Springstead Head Coach Polo Furlong said. "I think we played pretty well. We had to work on our defensive skill a little bit because we've got new people in there, but overall I think we played pretty good.

"Everybody stepped up to play. They just have to play with a little more heart. I've got great players that can play different positions, that's what helped me out a lot."

Offense one-sided

The Lady Eagles (11-2-2 overall, 7-2-2 4A-8) out-shot Wiregrass Ranch (5-7-3 overall, 1-6-3 4A-8) 11-3, as keeper Monica Vega had a relatively stress-free night, making just two saves.

With a little over 23 minutes to play in the opening half, Cristina Passafaro collected a rebound off an out-of-bounds kick by Lisa Truncale, the junior tallying her fifth goal of the season.

Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Truncale made it 2-0 on a ball that came off the defensive wall.

"It was pretty tough because we won last time (3-0 on Nov. 13) and we didn't expect it to be this competitive," said Truncale, second on the team to Walker with eight goals.

"…Crissy Passafaro had a corner, it hit off the goalie and I kicked it in."

The Lady Bulls got on the board in the 70th minute, Kayla Fitsimmons connecting with Camile Wilson on a nice cross.

"I think we could have played better," Wiregrass Ranch Head Coach Amanda Devona said. "We've been in a three-game tying slump. We were hoping tonight to come up and pull off a win.

"I think we can beat Springstead. Springstead is a tough club. There are a few teams that are pretty equal. We're struggling to prove ourselves still, gradually working our way up. We're starting to prove and turn games around. They beat us 3-0 (last time), so this is an improvement for us."

SPRINGSTEAD 2, WIREGRASS RANCH 1
Wiregrass Ranch 0 1 — 1
Springstead 1 1 — 2
Goals – WGR: Wilson; SPG: Passafaro, Truncale.
Assists – WGR: Fitsimmons; SPG: Truncale.
Shots on goal – WGR: 3, SPG: 11.
Saves – WGR: Friedrich 9; SPG: Vega 2.
Yellow Cards – none.
Blue Cards – none.
Red Cards – none.
Records: Wiregrass Ranch (5-7-3 overall, 1-6-3 4A-8), Springstead (11-2-2 overall, 7-2-2 4A-8).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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