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Hernando Today

Sister Act Solves NCT (Again), 1-0

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 22, 2009

HUDSON - In 2007 and 2008, Nature Coast Technical has been sent packing in the 4A-8 playoffs by always-tough New Port Richey-Gulf High.
Make that three straight.
The Lady Buccaneers snapped a scoreless tie at the 97th minute of Wednesday night's second overtime on special teams.
GHS freshman Alicia Schulman's corner kick was headed in by sophomore Dani Schulman past Shark goalkeeper Alicia Pierson to eliminate fifth-seeded NCT on the frigid Cobra Field at Hudson High, 1-0.
Unlike last winter, when the Bucs lineup featured nine seniors, GHS Head Coach Shari Schau's current roster includes four seniors. The majority of the Kiddie Corps squad is lined with freshmen and sophomores, including the Schulman sisters.
With the victory, the 11-7-4 Bucs will face top-seeded Hudson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.
During the regular season, GHS tied Hudson 1-1 at Des Little Stadium before losing 5-2 in the return match at Cobra Field.

Schulman's rule

The evenly played match was three minutes away from the first round of penalty kicks when Schulman's header decided matters.
"Man, am I glad this is over," smiled the 15-year-old Alicia Schulman. "Give Nature Coast credit, they were a lot better this time than they were the other two times we played 'em this year."
And the decisive corner kick?
"It's one our options," explained Alicia. "I struck it so good; I was so glad went it went in."
"The cross was actually perfect," explained the recipient 16-year-old Dani Schulman. "The way things were going we needed something big to happen. It seemed like it was coming to that point.
"The goal was big, real big," she added. "This just gives us some momentum heading into the Hudson match tomorrow."
In a match where NCT out-shot Gulf, 10-8, the final score said it all.
"It was a very evenly played and hard fought match," described Coach Schau, whose team was out shot 10-8. "Again we took advantage of an opportunity. The sisters know each other and Dani was right there."
What is Coach Schau most proud of?
"This team is so young, especially compared to last year," she replied. "We played great defense and sucked it up when we needed to. Against most good teams, you don't get too many opportunities to score. And I just hate ending matches in PKs. I'm glad we ended it on the field. I couldn't ask for anything else from the sisters."
From the other sideline, NCT's sixth-year Head Coach Phil Bennett dipped to 1-10-1 lifetime against the Bucs.
The playoff loss was the Sharks fifth straight one-and-done performance across five winters.
"We made one mistake back there and we got punished for it," lamented Bennett. "All week long we worked on corners and then this…"
Biggest positive?
"I've got to hand it to the kids," he said. "They gave me everything they had and they worked their sox off. We created a few more opportunities than they did, but couldn't finish. On probably any other day we score 3-4 goals, but not tonight.
"Give Gulf credit, like I said before there's never any quit with those girls," he remarked. "Every time we make a mistake, they capitalize. Us not finishing opportunities has been the story of our season."

Gulf 1, Nature Coast 0 (2 OTs)
NCT 0 0 0 0 -- 0
GULF 0 0 0 1 -- 1
Goals – GF: Dani Schulman.
Assists – GF: Alicia Schulman.
Shots on goal – NCT: 10, GF: 8.
Saves – NCT: Pierson 3; GF: Morlan 6.
Yellow cards – NCT: Jacobson (unsporting behavior); GF: Mizrahi (unsporting behavior).
Blue cards - none.
Red cards - none.
Records – Nature Coast Technical (8-8-4), Gulf (11-7-4).

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

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