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Hernando Today

Four Teams, One Dream

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 18, 2009

Move over regular season, the playoffs have arrived.
All four Hernando County girls soccer programs go into the week hoping to extend their seasons, but the reality is many teams will succumb to the rigors of the post-season pressure.
Let's face it, unless a team wins a state championship (which no team in a four-county radius has ever done except for Land O'Lakes), with one more loss, it's over.
Here's a look at each team.

Lady Eagles: no cake walks

After 18 winters, the most dominant girls soccer team in Hernando County continues to be F.W. Springstead.
As evidence once again, the Lady Eagles captured the county championship.
That's four in a row under fourth-year Head Coach Polo Furlong, and 10-of-11 overall.
SHS (16-4-2 overall) is seeking its ninth regional playoff appearance.
They'll attempt to make the playoffs for a third straight season on the road playing on possibly three straight nights.
The Lady Eagles are one of three Hernando County programs in the state's largest 4A division: the 9-team Class 4A, District 8 Tournament.
Like all the other districts, 4A-8 features a single elimination format including: defending champion Hudson, runner-up Spring Hill-Springstead, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Hernando, New Port Richey-Gulf, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Land O'Lakes-Sunlake.
Springstead slipped to the third seed after dropping its final 4A-8 match on Jan. 9 to Dade City-Pasco, 2-1. That night, SHS played minus three starters.
Interestingly, SHS won the first encounter against Pasco on Dec. 3 by the same score, 2-1.
How significant was the Jan. 9 upset?
Consider that Red and Black were 0-27-2 lifetime against Springstead since 1990-91.
Oddly enough, SHS will tangle with the Lady Pirates again in the 4A-8 quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The two have clashed before in the district play with Springstead winning both in 2006-07 (3-0) and 1992-93 (7-0).
This time, SHS will have its full compliment of players. Midfielder Kimberly Smith (blisters) has been in and out of the lineup and sweeper Ashley Southall returns after missing the season's last seven matches after a knee severe injury suffered at Zephyrhills.
Another key defender, Brittany Delgado, is back in the fold after dealing with migraines.
"Our conditioning with the returning players is a concern," explained Coach Furlong, who is 6-2 lifetime in post-season play. His teams have never gone less than 1-1 in districts. "Another key is our midfield. Alyson Brady has been solid there. She distributes and orchestrates everything. Pretty much as she goes, we go."
What about the lack of star power?
"We don't have that one great go-to player," admitted Coach Furlong. "But that's OK; we have better balance across the board. You really can't concentrate on any one player against us."
Is Hudson clearly the best team?
"Hudson has a great team, but funny things happen when everybody starts 0-0," pointed out Furlong. "To me, it's an open race. Any one of four teams could make the finals. Hudson has had trouble with Gulf. So that's not a lock. I told the girls from here on out, it's real simple, whoever wins, goes on; whoever loses, goes home."
Offensively, SHS is paced by senior Lisa Truncale and sophomore Ashley Williams with 10 goals apiece. Walker leads in assists with 11 followed by Brady (9).
Sophomore goalkeeper Monica Vega has etched eight shutouts.

Gulf vs. NCT (again)

If the rubber match between Pasco and Springstead was not enough, what about the 12th lifetime meeting between No. 4 seed Gulf and No. 5 seed NCT at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to sixth-year Head Coach Phil Bennett he expected the Sharks to contend for a district title this winter.
Instead, a rash of early-season injuries decimated his roster negating the return of leading scorer, Taylor Agricola.
Agricola suffered an ACL injury and until 10 days ago had not played in a match.
Now, she's back along with starting goalkeeper Sarah Berberian.
So, NCT is at 100 percent now, right?
"Health-wise, were at about 75 percent," explained Bennett of his current 8-7-4 squad. "We haven't been 100 percent all season. It's been a nightmare. I envisioned a completely different scenario before the season. Because of it (injuries) we're the No. 5 seed instead of possibly the No. 1 or No. 2 seed."
What have the Sharks done well?
"We haven't really given up many goals all season," declared Bennett about the 24 goals allowed in 19 matches. "We're real tough to break down in the back."
What's a concern?
"We really haven't scored many goals (38) either," pointed out Bennett. "With Taylor (Agricola) I thought we would have had at least 20 goals from her."
What about Gulf?
"We're going up against a team (Gulf) that is organized, well-coached and in my book a second-half team," said Bennett. "Like most good teams they play to their strengths. It's like every time we play them it's a close match but they seem to take advantage of our mistakes."
This season, NCT lost to Gulf 2-1 at home and tied the Buccaneers at Des Little Stadium, 1-1.
All time, NCT is haunted by its 1-8-2 record against the Bucs. They have not solved GHS since Jan. 21, 2004's 5-4 win at Gulf.
More importantly, since that first year, Coach Bennett's teams have gone one and done in the playoffs four straight seasons. The last two years, they've been ousted by (you guessed it!) Gulf.
NCT is led by junior Danielle Doucette (9 goals) and senior Megan Jacobson (8 goals).

No pressure on Leopards

Hernando High's Head Coach Rick Ahrens Leopards open the 4A-8 Tourney as the No. 8 seed versus winless and No. 9 Sunlake at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The Leopards (3-14-2) dropped the 0-19 Seahawks, 2-1 and 1-0.
Should the Leopards solve Sunlake for a third time, they'll be rewarded by facing top-seeded Hudson at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
HHS goes into districts hoping to snap its five-match losing skid. They've been out-scored 19-0 in the drought. Over the past 11 matches, HHS has dropped 10, scoring only one goal during that stretch.
The Purple and Gold was hoping to break out of its offensive doldrums Thursday night, but only one referee showed up at South Sumter, so the match was canceled.
"Our midfield has fallen apart," said Ahrens. "And that's because of our inexperience. We're mostly a JV team technique-wise and experience wise."
What does Ahrens forecast on Monday?
"I've been doing this too long," he quipped. "Anything can and does happen in the playoffs. Everybody goes in 0-0. All it tales is to get hot. I'm a perpetual optimist. Stranger things have happened (on the chances of HHS advancing past the first round).
"To me, there's no pressure on us," he said. "All the pressure is on someone like Hudson. They have everything to lose, not us. It's kinda like on a penalty kick. The pressure isn't really on the keeper, it's on the shooter."

Bears/Gators tangle (again)

Unlike the county's other three programs, Central High is a member of 5A-7.
That 5-team field consists of defending champion New Port Richey-River Ridge, runner-up Land O'Lakes, NPR-Ridgewood, Wesley Chapel and Brooksville-Central.
Central (6-10-4) comes in as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 2 seed Land O'Lakes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ridgewood High's Booster Stadium.
Fourth-year CHS Head Coach Amy Ellis has never beaten a Gator team. She stands 0-9-1 lifetime. Wednesday's marks the third time in four winters; CHS and LO'L have tangled in the post-season playoffs. The other two times, the Pasco County team ousted the Lady Bears.
"We know it'll be tough against Land O'Lakes," commented Ellis. "They've always beaten us. This time, we have Alyx (McKinney) back and we've got a full squad going in. All I ask the kids to do is play hard."
What's the key?
"The biggest thing is to play as a team," indicated Coach Ellis. "Some nights, we've played well on defense. Some nights, we've possessed and controlled the tempo on offense. We have to play as one against Land O'Lakes. That's where we've been struggling year."
Ellis said two of the season's biggest surprises have been first-year goalkeeper Brooke Wardlow and defender Taylor Kupcik.
Three others, Ashley Custodio, Marissa Still and Andrea Kelliher, have been "real consistent performers night in and night out."

AT A GLANCE

WHAT - Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 4A, District 8 Girls Soccer Tournament.
WHO - Nine-team field features a single elimination format including: defending champion Hudson, runner-up Spring Hill-Springstead, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Hernando, New Port Richey-Gulf, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Land O'Lakes-Sunlake.
WHERE - Cobra Field at Hudson High.
WHEN - Monday, Jan. 19, through Friday, Jan. 23.
AT STAKE - Top two teams advance to Thursday, Jan. 29's Class 4A, Region II quarterfinals playoffs.

WHAT - Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A, District 7 Girls Soccer Tournament.
WHO - Five-team field features a single elimination format including: defending champion New Port Richey-River Ridge, runner-up Land O'Lakes, NPR-Ridgewood, Wesley Chapel and Brooksville-Central.
WHERE - Booster Stadium at Ridgewood High.
WHEN - Tuesday, Jan. 20, through Friday, Jan. 23.
AT STAKE - Top two teams advance to Thursday, Jan. 29's Class 5A, Region II quarterfinal playoffs.

All-Time County Girls Soccer Champions
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

YEAR SCHOOL HEAD COACH W L T
1998-99 Springstead Bill Horvath 2 0 0
1999-00 Springstead Bill Horvath 4 0 0
2000-01 Springstead John Bifulco 3 0 1
2001-02 Springstead Randy Strat 4 0 0
2002-03 Central Hank Deslaurier 3 1 0
2003-04 Springstead Randy Strat 5 0 1
2004-05 Springstead Randy Strat 5 0 1
2005-06 Springstead Polo Furlong 5 1 0
2006-07 Springstead Polo Furlong 5 0 1
2007-08 Springstead Polo Furlong 4 1 1
2007-08 Nature Coast Phil Bennett 4 1 1
2008-09 Springstead Polo Furlong 5 0 1
TOTALS 49 4 7

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

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