TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Leopards: One and Done (Again)

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 23, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL – For over 47 minutes, supreme underdog and ninth-seeded Hernando High maintained a post-season pulse against eighth-seeded and archrival Nature Coast Technical in the Class 4A, District 8 play-in match Monday night at Wiregrass Ranch.
Despite getting out shot 16-3 in first half, HHS remained in a scoreless deadlock at the intermission along the three minutes of the second half of the team's third meeting this winter.
The Sharks had captured the first two clashes 4-0 and 6-2.
Despite the valiant efforts of Hernando freshman goalkeeper Nick Noto (14 saves) and sophomore back-up goalie Cesar Garcia (3 saves), the Leopard defense eventually wilted in the final 33 minutes of the match.
NCT's sophomore defender Lachlan Cameron tallied twice within a 7-minute span to break the ice, sophomore forward Joe MacGregor added a goal on a loose ball in the box and a late Hernando High own goal allowed the Sharks to exit East Pasco County with a 4-0 shutout.
With the win, the Sharks were scheduled to face the four-time defending district champion Dade City-Pasco Pirates on Tuesday.
The Pirates went 16-0-0 during district play defeating NCT twice during the regular season (3-0 and 8-0) and stand 12-0 lifetime versus the Sharks.

Leopards: curtains come down

The loss in the single-elimination affair closed the curtains on Hernando's 18th straight losing season.
Since Nov. 28's 6-2 win a Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium, the Purple and Gold dropped its final 15 matches in a row -- featuring eight shutouts.
Though this winter's third meeting between the schools was cleanly played with no cards handed out, the Leopards dropped their fifth straight to the 5-14-2 Sharks.
Hernando's last series win was Jan. 10, 2006 at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium, 2-1.
More importantly, HHS continued its downward spiral in post-season play.
Monday night's district loss was its 12th straight or since Jan. 22, 1996's 2-0 4A-6 win over Belleview.
So what were the positives for the Purple and Gold?
"We saw some moments in the first half," shared HHS' first-year Head Coach Kevin Knox, after his team finished 2-18-1 overall. "I saw some positive things from the guys that are coming back next year.
"Overall, it was a long and disappointing season," added Knox. "This year, we lost some kids. We had some injuries. We need 3-5 years to get this thing turned around. This program has gone through some coaches, too. I'm looking forward to coaching our freshmen and sophomores that are coming back. It was a learning experience. We had 38 boys overall, we just need a couple more coaches to help us out. I can't do it all."

Sharks: records pile up

For NCT, a program that came into its fifth season 6-69-4 lifetime, it etched its school-high fifth win of the season and more importantly, its second shutout behind sophomore goalkeeper Nick Allegra (5 saves).
Allegra, in turn, credited the perimeter defenders, including junior J.J. Lane around him.
"Our defense played composed," explained the 15-year-old Allegra. "The key was we played as a team. When they play like that it definitely makes my job a lot easier."
How pivotal was the Sharks' first playoff victory since besting Hernando in the 3A-6 Tourney at Pasco on Feb. 2, 2005, 1-0?
"Hernando's always our rival," replied Allegra. "It's nice to beat them. I've never lost to them."

Big Mac's attack

MacGregor's goal at 63 minutes was unassisted and came off a scramble on a loose ball in the box in front of Noto. It marked MacGregor's first-ever varsity goal.
"It felt good getting my first goal," said the 15-year-old MacGregor. "It was a long time coming. It (the goal) helped us tonight. I thought we all played great as a team."
Cameron, who came in with two goals, opened the scoring with a 9-yard blast past Noto on a feed from Matt Curtis at 47:49.
Seven minutes later, Cameron's left-footed goal came off a Jean-Pierre Salazar throw-in, 2-0.
"At halftime, coach (Patrick O'Grady) told me 'to score,'" recalled the 15-year-old Cameron, on his team's spark. "So I did what he asked. The rivalry against Hernando means a lot to everybody here."
The first-year O'Grady cherished the moment.
"I think our passing was the key tonight," insisted O'Grady. "We've worked a lot on our possession. I think that was evident tonight."
And the defense?
"We've got four rock solid guys back there (Lane, Daniel Colon, Trevor Hayworth and stopper Brandon Misener)," said O'Grady. "Them communicating well is the key. I like the way we covered for each other."

Nature Coast 4, Hernando 0
Hernando 0 0 -- 0
NCT 0 4 -- 4
Goals - NCT: Cameron 2, MacGregor, HHS own goal.
Assists - NCT: Curtis, Salazar.
Shots on goal - HER: 5, NCT: 30.
Saves - HER: Noto 14, Garcia 3; NCT: Allegra 5.
Yellow cards - none.
Blue cards - none.
Red cards - none.
Records: Hernando (2-18-1 overall), Nature Coast Technical (5-14-2).

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT