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Hernando Today

Better performance, same results

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By MARTY MILLER, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: January 2, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - In its third-round match of the Ridgewood Boys Winter Soccer Classic Friday afternoon, the Springstead High team was finally able to show some consistent offense.

But in the end it was not enough to earn a victory as the Eagles dropped their third straight match of the tournament (and fifth overall) as Inverness-Citrus claimed seventh place, 3-2.

After losing to Alonso 5-0 in the round and then losing 4-2 in a shootout to Zephyrhills Thursday, the Eagles showed more tenacity on the offensive side in the 8-team tourney.

On Friday, the 7-8-5 Eagles jumped on the scoreboard first when they converted a free kick into a goal 14-minutes into the game.

Zach Magrini took the kick from the left wing and hit Nathan Leathers, who was alone at the right goal post.

Leathers then sent the ball back over his head to Stephen Philippeaux, who headed it in for a goal and the Eagles' first lead in the tourney.

At the start of the second half, Citrus jumped in front when it scored two goals within a four-minute stretch.

First, Nathan Swander scored in the 46th minute on an assist from Michael Warnock and then four minutes later, the Hurricanes went in front 2-1 on an unassisted goal from Michael Jernigan.

But when things seemed bleak, the Eagles got a break in the 60th minute when Sal D'Acunto earned a free kick just outside the Citrus penalty box.

D'Acunto hit his first shot into the wall but picked up the rebound and hit a high, curving shot that beat Citrus goalie Ray Fernandez, 2-2.

The Hurricanes, who beat Springstead 3-0 earlier in the year, however, scored the game-winner three minutes later.
Swander took a corner kick from the right side and found Sean McKinlay alone at the far post and he headed it in for the winner, 3-2.

Unlike its opening two matches of the tourney where Springstead was out shot 58-20, the Eagles were out shot by Citrus by just 19-18.

And like the opening two games where goalkeeper Joey LaSala had to make a number of tough saves in each game, the freshman did the same Friday against Zephyrhills.

After the break for the holiday, Springstead again starts up with Class 4A, District 8 play as the Eagles travel to Gulf on Monday, Jan. 7.

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