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Hernando Today

Leopard Woes Extended

4A-8 BOYS SOCCER

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High goalkeeper Chris Thurman elevates for one of his 13 saves during first-half play Monday night at Booster Stadium in Spring Hill, as Zephyrhills’ Chris First (15) eyes the action.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 27, 2009

SPRING HILL - This season Zephyrhills High has endured three rather lengthy losing streaks - 6 games, 7 games, 6 games.
Fortunately, for the East Pasco County Bulldogs, the streak buster has been Brooksville-Hernando.
On Monday night in opening round of the nine-team, single elimination Class 4A, District 8 Boys Soccer Tournament at Springstead High's Booster Stadium, the familiar pattern again held true to form.
The eighth seed Orange and Black scored on a pair of goals by senior A.J. Wright and freshman Gunnar Chauncey in each half to eliminate the No. 9 seed Leopards, 4-2.
Four different Bulldogs added assists including Ryan Geddes, Thomas Aiman, Mike Avadikian and Wright.
HHS, which closed the season being out-scored by 133 goals (155-22), cut the deficit to one goal twice by second-half solo goals by Mike Davalos (penalty kick) and Andres Pinzon.

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With the setback, Hernando completed its second season under Head Coach Kevin Knox winless at 0-24-0. The loss was the Purple and Gold's county-record 39th in a row dating back to Nov. 26, 2007's 6-2 nod over (you guessed it) Zephyrhills at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium.
The loss also extended the county record to 13 consecutive seasons of district eliminations after one match.
On the flip side, Zephyrhills' fifth-year Head Coach Wade Cutler's squad advances to Tuesday's 4 p.m. quarterfinal match against top seed Dade City-Pasco. The Pirates chained the 'Dawgs twice during the regular season, 8-0 and 6-0.
 
The Wright Way
 
For the victors, Wright notched his fifth and sixth goals of the season.
What was the key?
"It was great to get the early lead," admitted the 17-year-old Wright. "It's a great advantage to lead early. Emotionally its good for us and bad for them."
What's next?
"This gives us a chance to make up for the first two times we played Pasco," replied Wright. "The last time it was just 1-0 at halftime. We've got to pull it all together to have a chance."
"Our defense needs to play just as hard against Pasco," declared the 14-year-old Chauncey following his third and fourth goals of the season. "Playing Pasco is a huge rivalry game for us."
Coach Cutler wasn't making any predictions against Pasco and former Zephyrhills assistant coach Barry Grayling.
"Barry's got another tremendous team," said Cutler. "Tonight, our kids finally starting putting the ball in the net. It's pretty simple. To win in this game, you've gotta score. This is our future team, is mostly freshmen and sophomores. These are babies learning the game.
"These kids have the ability to play well against them," he added. "It'll take a little adrenaline and some fortunate play."
 
Zephyrhills 4, Hernando 2
ZEP 2  2 — 4
HER 0 2 — 2
Goals – HER: Davalos, Pinzon; ZEP: Chauncey (2), Wright (2).
Assists – ZEP: Geddes, Aiman, Avadikian, Wright.
Shots on goal – HER: 11; ZEP: 23.
Saves – HER: Thurman 13; ZEP: Wilson 7.
Yellow Cards – HER: Lane (dangerous play), Champney (unsporting behavior);
ZEP: Hinton (dangerous play).
Blue Cards – none.
Red Cards – none.
Records: Hernando (0-24-0), Zephyrhills  (3-19-0).

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

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