End Of An Era...'Dawgs' Patrias Scores Once, Adds An Assist To Pave No. 6 seed Z'hills Past No. 3 Seed Springstead, 3-1

WESLEY CHAPEL - Over the past eight winters, one boys' soccer program has set the standard for Hernando County -- Springstead High.
Over that span, the Eagles have collected seven county titles, garnered two district crowns and finished as district runner-ups four times.
The combined efforts of Central, Hernando, Nature Coast Technical and Hernando Christian Academy do not add up to what the Eagles have accomplished.
But that success officially reached the end of the line Tuesday night at second-year Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel.
The Class 4A, District 8 Eagles, who began the season with two players with any varsity experience, were eliminated in the first-round quarterfinal match against No. 6 seed Zephyrhills, 3-1.
The setback marked the first time in 10 winters that the Eagles had been eliminated in the first round of the district playoffs.
SHS's 15th-year Head Coach Sal Calabrese did not mince words at the conclusion of the match.
Just what happened?
"The kids didn't play to expectations," he insisted. "We came into the year with two guys (Keenan Fisher and Steve Sullivan) with any varsity experience. We played a lot of freshmen who normally would have played JV for us. Instead, they got a dose of varsity experience. It'll help everyone for next season."
How disappointed was Calabrese, who slipped to 169-115-36 lifetime?
"The lack of effort this year was disappointing," Calabrese said. "Our guys were young, we'll be young again next year, but they'll have a year of experience at this level -- that'll help."
When will the Eagles start preparing for next season?
"Next year starts when we get off the bus tonight," indicated Calabrese. "Our No.1 goal before next year is to find which boys are committed to our off-season training. Are the boys satisfied with this season? That's the question that will be posed."

No real upset

On the surface, one would think the now 5-11-6 Bulldogs' triumph was an upset. That would be far from the truth.
The teams split the first three meetings this winter.
On Tuesday evening, second-year Head Coach Wade Cutler's 'Dawgs again rolled out a squad featuring 10 seniors, including seven starters.
The Bulldogs' largest player, 6-foot-4 Andy Patrias literally and figuratively stood out.
Patrias entered the match as a converted defender.
The blonde-haired Patrias helped snap a scoreless deadlock at 22:00 minutes with a feed to senior midfielder Jeff Wilcox. Wilcox, who came in with five goals, scored from nine yards out.
Within three minutes Patrias scored on an unassisted goal -- just his second of the season, 2-0 Orange and Black.
"I'm a senior, I came into this match thinking this might be my last," said the 17-year-old Patrias. "This was a huge win. Tomorrow against Hudson we have to play the same. We all have to go all out if we're gonna win again."
Though Z'hills out shot Springstead (7-12-7 overall), 16-6, in the first half the score remained 2-0 at the intermission.
Two minutes into the second half, game's complexion changed as Kris Fregoso mistakenly scored an own goal past startled Bulldog goalkeeper Rafael Rodriguez, 2-1.
Despite the break, that's the closest Springstead would come as Rodriguez tallied six saves.
At 54:00, another Bulldog senior, Mike Avadikian, scored his first goal of the season on a cross from junior A.J. Wright to close the scoring, 3-1.
Coach Cutler believed the game's first two goals were pivotal.
"We absolutely needed a fast start," he said. "I'm glad this one is over. I didn't think we played that well. Getting those two early goals in the back of the net gave us some breathing room."

Zephyrhills 3, Springstead 1
Zephyrhills 2 1 -- 3
Springstead 0 1 -- 1
Goals - ZHS: Wilcox, Patrias, Avadikian; SPG: Z'hills own goal.
Assists - ZHS: Patrias, Wright.
Shots on goal - ZHS: 21; SPG: 9.
Saves - ZHS: Rodriguez 6; SPG: LaSala 9.
Yellow cards - ZHS: Wilcox (unsportsmanlike behavior); SPG: Sullivan (unsportsmanlike behavior).
Blue cards - none.
Red cards - none.
Records: Zephyrhills (5-11-6), Springstead (7-12-7 overall).