Nine - the hard way

The scoreboard at the east end of Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium noted Wednesday's 2-1 win by visiting archrival Nature Coast Technical.
A pair of first-half goals by senior Zach Weeks and sophomore Eric MacLean, on assists by Danny Colon and Lachlan Cameron, permitted the Sharks (5-10-0) to snap a three-match losing skid.
The triumph served as the Sharks' ninth straight series nod against host Hernando High (2-13-0 overall) since Jan. 10, 2006.
Though NCT dominated ball possession, dominated shots on goals (19-7), they could not shake off the stubborn Leopards.
NCT blew an opportunity for a rare shutout 11 minutes into the second half when a defender accidentally redirected a kick past stunned goalkeeper Jared Standifer, 2-1.
Minutes later, HHS sophomore striker Andres Pinzon, the team's leading scorer (13 points, including six goals) cracked a 35-yard free kick that almost hooked into the net. Instead, it glanced off the top of cross bar denying the equalizer.
The Sharks were their own worst enemies hitting the cross bar twice, missing at least five point-blank shots and a penalty kick.
Nursing a 1-0 cushion, MacLean misfired on a penalty kick after being fouled in the box 29 minutes into the first half.
Fittingly, MacLean's ensuing PK glanced off the cross bar and the rebound went to a wide-open teammate, who topped his shot over the net.
Fortunately, Lachlan threaded a pass to MacLean less than a minute later leading to his sixth goal of the season.
The goal was sweet redemption for MacLean as it doubled as the game-winner.
"It was a good match," described the 18-year-old Weeks, who opened the scoring at 24 minutes with his second goal of the season. "We played well; we were just unlucky on our shot attempts."
Were the Sharks a bit over confident going in?
"You come into every match treating it like it's a normal game," said Weeks. "But sometimes you play down to your opponents."
For his part, MacLean savored a second chance at a goal.
"Missing a PK is the worst feeling out there," indicated the 16-year-old MacLean. "I haven't missed one all year. It was wonderful to get a goal. There's no other feeling like it."
And the team's mindset going in?
"We definitely weren't playing either Land O'Lakes or River Ridge," said MacLean. "It's easier to get up for teams like that. I thought we were down (flat)."

Coaches' chatter

Regardless of the final score, first-year NCT Head Coach Ian Wald acknowledged both teams played hard, especially Hernando.
"I told their coach that they've turned that program around," said Wald. "They were down 2-0 and they played phenomenal. They never gave up."
What did Wald take from this match?
"We should have had a zero on defense," Wald said. "And we certainly should have scored a few more goals. We scored enough to win. I'm happy to be 5-10 instead of say, 4-11."
Biggest positive?
"We tried some new things," he replied. "For the most part everything seemed to work. We moved the ball around real well. The biggest negative was not finishing opportunities."
For his part, first-year HHS Head Coach Andrew Suarez was not disappointed with the Leopards' third straight loss.
"I thought we played great. We had 100 percent effort," he noted. "The biggest positive for us was we stayed in the match. Pinzon almost tied it. He struck it well.
"As a team, we're making strides," he added. "I see nothing but good things happening in the future."

Nature Coast 2, Hernando 1
NCT 2 0 - 2
HER 0 1 - 1
Goals - NCT: Weeks, E. MacLean; HER: own goal.
Assists - NCT: Colon, Cameron.
Shots on goal - NCT 19; HER: 5.
Saves - NCT: Sandifer 2; HER: Noto 7.
Yellow Cards - NCT: Jeff VanNatter (unsporting behavior); HER - Thurman (unsporting behavior); bench (dissent).
Blue Cards - none.
Red Cards - none.
Records: Nature Coast Technical (5-10-0 overall, 2-2-0 county), Hernando (2-13-0 overall, 0-6-0 county).