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Right Place, Right Time

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead’s Paige Kuhn (20) pushes the ball upfield against Hudson Wednesday evening at Cobra Field. Hudson won, 2-1.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: December 17, 2008

HUDSON - One streak ended, one continued Wednesday night in a rematch of Class 4A, District 8's current two highest seeds.
Springstead, which saw its 17-year winning skein against the Lady Cobras snapped in last winter's 4A-8 final on penalty kicks, dropped the first meeting against Hudson at Booster Stadium, 1-0.
But since that setback, SHS rebounded to string together eight consecutive wins.
The host Cobras, who opened the season on the short end of a 5-1 loss at River Ridge, entered Wednesday night's match riding a school-record 13-match unbeaten skein.
Make that 14.
In the return match, Springstead junior forward Jacqueline Alexander unleashed a 19-yard rocket following a lengthy feed by Crystal Williams 5:30 into the match. Alexander's fourth goal of the season made it 1-0 Eagles.
But the host Cobras countered at 17 minutes as sophomore Erica Wills collected a Lindsay Zullo cross across the goal mouth for an easy tap in, 1-1.
That's the way it remained until the dangerous Zullo, who came in with a team-best 15 goals, was stoned by Springstead goalkeeper Monica Vega (7 saves). Unfortunately, all Vega could do was knock the shot down. The rebound rolled right to Cobra freshman Darian Ohling, who rammed it home for the winner, 2-1.
With the victory, Head Coach Christine Rizzieri's Cobras climbed to 13-1-1 overall and solidified their grip on next month's 4A-8 Tourney at Cobra Field at 12-0-1.
All told, the Cobras out-shot Springstead, 11-5.

Evaluating

Afterward, Springstead Head Coach Furlong was not distraught.
Despite the Eagles (13-3-2 overall, 9-3-2 4A-8) playing without sweeper Ashley Southall (severe ankle injury suffered at Zephyrhills) and losing defender Brittany Delgado late in the match due to a kicked ball in the face, Furlong said his team was in the match.
"It was a great match," said Furlong. "I said before the year that Hudson would be the team to beat and they still are.
"I thought our kids played well," added Furlong. "We made some good passes and had some nice combinations."
From the home sideline Coach Rizzieri was elated with her team's comeback especially since the hosts played without two injured starters including the team's No. 2 scorer, senior Michelle Lang (knee), and sophomore midfielder/defender Ashley Tarappuzzano (possible broken right ankle).
"This was a big match," exclaimed Coach Rizzieri. "The way it is right now, Springstead will be the second seed. And no disrespect to anybody else, but we don't want to see either Springstead or Gulf in the second round (semifinals).
"Pulling out a win without two starters the way we did is a real confidence boaster," added Rizzieri. "Playing against some of the weaker teams sometimes gives you a false sense of security. We know Springstead has a good team."
What about Ohling's efforts?
"She's a scrapper," described Rizzieri. "She always keeps going. She always pressures the ball. That's what she does, that's why she's in there."
Ohling rewound the game-winning goal.
"I saw the ball, the net, and I kicked it," smiled the 14-year-old Ohling on her fifth goal of the season. "It was a big goal. Zoo (Zullo) was amazing. I couldn't have scored without her."
How pivotal was the match?
"This was such a big match," answered Ohling. "We were in first and they were in second."
"The Springstead match is our biggest match of the season," added the 17-year-old Zullo. "It's a big rival game."
What was the mindset after being down 1-0?
"I think being down kinda motivated us to play that much harder," explained Zullo.
And Ohling?
"She's a feisty girl," described Zullo. "She's always in the right place at the right time."

Hudson 2, Springstead 1
SPG 1 0 — 1
HUD 1 1 — 2
Goals – SPG: Alexander; HUD: Wills, Ohling.
Assists – SPG: Williams; HUD: Zullo.
Shots on goal – SPG: 5; HUD: 11.
Saves – SPG: Vega 7; HUD: Imbimbo.
Yellow Cards – SPG-Kuhn (unsporting behavior).
Blue Cards – none.
Red Cards – none.
Records: Springstead (13-3-2, 9-3-2 4A-8), Hudson (13-1-1, 12-0-1).

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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