Lecanto returns the favor

Last time Hernando and Lecanto squared off, the Leopards celebrated their first win of this season and the end of a 44-match losing skid.

Much like that 4-2 Hernando victory on Nov. 23 in Citrus County, Thursday's rematch at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium had a similar storyline.

Except this time, it was the Panthers enjoying their initial win of the 2009-10 season, 2-0.

"It feels good to get one out of the way," said Lecanto Head Coach Doug Warren, who led the Panthers to a state championship in 2004. "It's been a long drought. We've had seven one-goal games.

"We got two goals. We don't get two goals very often. The big difference is we got the first one."

Technically, the first goal was given to them. Lecanto (1-10-1) scored in the first half when the ball went off a Hernando (2-12) defender.

The Leopards went without a shot on goal until late in the second half, but appeared to tie the match with 18 minutes remaining.

Shawn Heiney's kick was headed toward the left side of the net. Kevin Herbert snagged the ball and put it in, but the goal was disallowed when Herbert was called for being offsides.

Four minutes later, Samuel Heinze intercepted a pass and kicked it in from roughly 15 yards out to double the Panthers' lead.

"Hopefully we can build on something positive," Warren said. "We've finally got something positive and hopefully we take it into the rest of the season after we come back from (Christmas) break."

First-year Hernando Head Coach Andrew Suarez also felt his team was progressing toward bigger and better things.

"Our defense fell apart again," Suarez said. "We're a young team. We're getting better. We'll get there.

"...Ball control all the way. They (Lecanto) had it tonight. Their keeper played pretty good. It might be the consequence of my guys playing three games a week. They're worn down. They got tired."

LECANTO 2, HERNANDO 0
Lecanto 1 1 - 2
Hernando 0 0 - 0
Goals - LEC: Heinze, own goal.
Assists - none.
Shots on goal - LEC: 11, HER: 2.
Saves - LEC: Bouthillier 1; HER: Noto 7.
Yellow Cards - none.
Blue Cards - none.
Red Cards - none.
Records: Lecanto (1-10-1), Hernando (2-12).