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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 22, 2009

HUDSON - It was bound to happen.
Third-seeded Springstead High (17-5-2) reached the end of the line Thursday night at Cobra Field.
After 100 minutes of playoff soccer amid the 29-degree temperatures the night before, SHS was left literally running on fumes in its Class 4A, District 8 semifinal. The team, however, seemingly did not have its game legs.
How gassed were the Eagles?
SHS, which was out-shot 12-3 overall, was out-shot 9-1 in the pivotal first half. Had Springstead goalkeeper Monica Vega not made six of her seven saves, ZHS could have easily led by 2-3 goals.
How soft was the Eagle attack?
Consider that Zephyrhills' backup goalie Kate Patton never recorded a save. ZHS' starting keeper, senior Brittni Manatou, who has 12 shutouts, was at funeral home viewing and was not available.
As it was, the No. 2 seed Zephyrhills Bulldogs (16-6-1) took advantage of their fifth shot on goal that was stoned by Vega. Fortunately for the Orange and Black, the rebound tricked back to striker, junior Amber Morgenstern.
Morgenstern, who came in with 11 goals, followed with a shot that turned out to be the unassisted game-winner, 1-0.
"It (goal) was so big because it was districts," declared the 17-year-old Morgenstern. "I thought the goal gave us some early momentum."
Did the Lady Bulldogs give maximum effort in solving Springstead for the first time in three matches this season?
"We could play better," replied Morgenstern. "This wasn't our best game, but we pulled it out."
Though the curtains came down for the Springstead on its bid for a ninth regional appearance, the fact is the Lady Eagles return 15-of-17 rostered players and 10-of-11 starters.
"This team is pretty good," explained SHS' 17-year-old Lisa Truncale, the lone Eagle starter to graduate in May. "We went further than any of the teams I've played on before, except for last year."
Was Truncale disappointed in not reaching the finals in her senior year?
"We played much better in the second half," shrugged Truncale. "I know I didn't play my best."
How solid is Zephyrhills?
"It's 50/50 every time we play with them," she responded.
Fifth-year Springstead Head Coach Polo Furlong took the setback in stride.
"Look, if you can't score, how can you win?" he lamented. "I'm not gonna make excuses. We tried and we didn't get it done."
How spent were the Eagles?
"We were tired," Furlong described. "Last night, the four overtimes in the 29-degree took its toll. And today we had to turn around a play another tough team."
Overall?
"You know we still had a good season," he summed up. "We won 17 matches with practically a new team. A lot of people did not believe in us, but we did. We were the last county team left playing again. We must have been doing something right. I think our best days with this group are ahead of us."

Zephyrhills 1, Springstead 0
SPG 0 0 -- 0
ZEP 1 0 -- 1
Goals – ZEP: Morgenstern.
Assists – none.
Shots on goal – SPG: 3; ZEP: 12.
Saves – SPG: Vega: 7; ZEP: Patton 0.
Yellow cards – ZEP: Nieves (unsporting behavior), Hough (persistent infringement).
Blue cards - none.
Red cards - none.
Records – Springstead (17-5-2), Zephyrhills (16-6-1).

Class 4A-8 Girls Soccer Tourney Recap
at Hudson High's Cobra Field

01-19:
Sunlake 1, Hernando 0

01-20:
Zephyrhills 5, Wiregrass Ranch 0
Hudson 6, Sunlake 1

01-21:
Gulf 1, NCT 0 (2 OTs)
Springstead 2, Pasco 1 (3 OTs-SPG wins PKs 4-1)

01-22:
Zephyrhills 1, Springstead 0

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

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