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Hernando Today

Dog Pile!

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 19, 2009

HUDSON - One way or another, somebody's losing skein had to be extended Monday night at Cobra Field.
What was shocking was it was No. 8 seed Brooksville-Hernando closing the season behind its sixth straight loss – and 11th in 12 matches -- in the Class 4A, District 8 opener to No. 9 seed Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, 1-0.
With the stunner, Sunlake advances to 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal match Tuesday against top seeded Hudson. The Cobras spanked SHS twice this winter, 8-0 and 6-0.

Gerken rules

Seven minutes into the match, Sunlake freshman Erin Mauthner's corner kick was headed in by senior Holly Gerken for what turned out to be the winning goal.
In an evenly played match, both teams attempted seven shots on goal but neither could find the back of the net except for Gerken.
Hernando goalkeeper Megan Platt kept the Leopards (3-15-2) in the match with five saves.
Her counterpart, Seahawk sophomore goalie Jena Butler etched six saves.
Though the Purple and Gold solved the Seahawks twice this season (2-1, 1-0), Sunlake avenged last winter's 5-1 playoff loss to Hernando.
More importantly, Sunlake had reason to celebrate.
After opening its inaugural season in 2007-08 with 16 consecutive losses, it tied Hernando on Dec. 12, 2007 at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium, 1-1.
SHS concluded the campaign with six straight setbacks.
The Seahawks drew the curtains on their initial campaign being outscored by 147 goals (150-3) and suffered 19 shutouts.
SHS' first Head Coach Chris Leko did not return after 0-22-1 campaign and was replaced by Rio Asad.
Asad didn't have much more success. Asad's club entered Monday's match winless at 0-21-0.
In the process, SHS had been outscored by 100 goals, 108-8.
But Gerken's team-leading fourth goal of the season gave the Seahawks its first lead of the season.
Meanwhile, the closest HHS came to score arrived in the first half when Leopard captain Hailey Royal juked Butler out of position on a one-and-one dribble but stumbled to the pitch before releasing a shot attempt against an empty net from five yards out.
After making Gerken's goal stand up, SHS players celebrated after the final whistle with a massive dog pile on Cobra Field.
What did the upset taste like?
"It's the most amazing feeling," explained the 17-year-old Gerken. "We (all the SHS seniors) were all crying before the match. We thought this was our last match."
What was the key?
"The first goal was huge," replied Gerken. "This (win) is sweet. It's a beautiful way to go out. Our defense kept their heads up the entire game."
What about the corner kick by Mauthner?
"I thought I curved it and then I saw ball go zoom into the back of net," smiled the 14-year-old Mauthner. "That goal was so big. We haven't led all year. And then defensively we all came together. In the past, one person, maybe two, played hard on defense. Tonight, everybody did."
Pressuring most of the night was SHS junior defender Chelsey Tejas.
"This was amazingly sweet," declared the 16-year-old Tejas. "And I loved the dog pile afterward.
"Listen I don't care that we have to face Hudson tomorrow," she added. "We'll all take and enjoy our first win. Trust me, we'll play hard and do the best we can."
Coach Asad savored the historic win.
"The first goal was so important," he recalled. "Psychologically, it changed the match. Coming in, we were used having someone else control the match. But tonight we scored early and then we took control.
"Defense is something we work on," he added. "We try to bunkerup. That's what worked tonight."
And Butler between the pipes?
"Butler is an outstanding goalkeeper," he remarked. "Our starting keeper got hurt early in the season and she's done the job ever since. Tonight, Jena was magical. She kept us in the match and she was the one that made up for some of our mistakes in the back. I'm so proud of her. She's a very humble, soft-spoken player."

Sunlake 1, Hernando 0
SNL 1 0 — 1
HER 0 0 — 0
Goals – SNL: Gerken.
Assists – SNL: Mauthner.
Shots on goal – SNL: 7; HER: 7.
Saves – SNL: Butler 6; HER: Platt 5.
Yellow Cards – HER: Lawrence (unsporting behavior).
Blue Cards – none.
Red Cards – none.
Records: Sunlake (1-21-0), Hernando (3-15-2).

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

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