Happy sweet 16!

Springstead sophomore forward Andrew Brunner has always been known for his exploits on the tennis courts than on the pitch.
He helped the Powell Panthers to a fine 12-6 won-lost slate. In two seasons, he went a combined 11-5 in singles action under coaches Keith Carsillo and Tim "T.J." Roberts on the Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference circuit.
But once he matriculated to F.W. Springstead's campus, he seemed to be just another face.
This winter, he's quietly collected four goals and two assists through 14 matches. But his teammates kept instructing him to stop "hitting the ball like a girl."
Perhaps the teasing will end after Tuesday night.
In the waning seconds - 16 to be exact - of Tuesday's second-round winner's bracket match against rugged 5A-3 Tallahassee-Leon, the Eagles needed a miracle.
A deep throw-in by Gerry DeCristofaro into the scoring box was headed by Chris Sarabalis. The ball actually glanced off his head right to the toes of Brunner.
Brunner followed with a huge kick from seven yards out that was somehow corralled by the net past Lion goalkeeper Wesley Chlendinen. Though the Leon County crew had one more shot at the Eagle net, Eagle keeper Joey Lasala came up large with his sixth and final save as the whistle blew concluding a well played, 2-1 Springstead win.
"First, give credit to Coach Sal (Calabrese)," described the 16-year-old Brunner on his game-winner. "After all these years, he's still got it. He gave me an opportunity to play. I'm so glad to put one in."
How critical was the win?
"Finishing second last year sucked," said Brunner. "We want to take it. Our defense is amazing. Mario (DelPozzo), Gerry (DeCristofaro), Joey (Lasala) and everybody else play their hearts out."
DelPozzo thought both teams emptyied their tanks.
"Both teams played hard," DelPozzo said. "After I scored the first goal, we tried and tried looking for that second goal. Thank goodness nobody gave up.
"We have a lot of seniors (10) and nobody wanted to lose it," he added. "And I've got to give credit to Andrew (Brunner). We told him to stop striking the ball like a girl. He proved us wrong at the end."
With the triumph, the Eagles' season-high win streak stretched to five matches. More importantly, SHS earned a berth in the 7 p.m. Wednesday finale of the Ridgewood Ram Holiday Tournament. The Eagles hope to make amends for last year's 4-1 final's loss to Tampa-Alonso.

Another redwood falls

In the process, SHS solved another team with a lengthy unbeaten skein.
The Lions (10-2-1), who have 10 seniors on the roster and start six, hadn't dropped a match since their second game of the season.
Leon, which out-shot Springstead, 12-9, trailed 1-0 at the intermission.
Four minutes into the match, SHS forced the Lions to play catch-up as senior Mario DelPozzo flicked a header off a long throw-in by DeCristofaro. DelPozzo's fourth goal stood up until seven minutes passed in the second half.
That's when Lion senior Brendon Santry threaded a pass to junior Justin Ira for the equalizer, 1-1.
Inspired by the goal, Head Coach Jamie McBrearty's club seemed energized and continued to press the attack leading to nine quality shot attempts.
Leon's efforts were typified with 3 1/2 minutes left as junior Simon Kendall went one-on-one with Lasala on a breakaway but the Eagle junior stoned the attempt to maintain the deadlock.
Lasala commented save against Kendall.
"All I thought about was keeping my eyes on the ball," explained the 16-year-old Lasala. "I did everything I could tonight."
What about losing the shutout bid after four straight zeros?
"I'm more happy with the win," smiled Lasala.
Coach McBrearty, a 1996 Citrus High alumnus, summed up his team's efforts.
"We had opportunities," explained McBrearty, a former Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Soccer Player of the Year, "We felt we were prepared coming in. I'm very happy with how we played."
The difference?
"The difference was our defense on two throw-ins," replied McBrearty. "They (Springstead) scored on the game's first throw-in and the last one. I had a bad feeling in my gut before he they threw the last one in. I told the kids, we'll learn from this. We'll use this as motivation for districts. Right now, we'll regroup and play for third tomorrow."

Other sideline

SHS Head Coach Sal Calabrese complimented his entire team following Tuesday's win beginning with the defense.
"That's our strength (defense)," said Calabrese, who collected his 195th career win. "Everything starts with us in the back. And Mario (DelPozzo) volunteered to play there when Sully (Steve Sullivan) got hurt.
"Leon split two defenders and scored their goal," recalled Calabrese. "But overall, our fitness is carrying us. All the hills we ran have begun to pay off."
What about Brunner's game-winner?
"What can I say? Andrew's goal is what makes our team so unique. We don't have one guy who can hit the winner," pointed out Calabrese. "Give Andrew credit. I know the kids have been riding him about striking the ball, but there was no doubt on his last shot. It was solid."
What about Leon?
"They're another good side," said Calabrese. "They're well coached. That's two good, solid teams we've played in two nights."

Ridgewood Ram Holiday Classic Results:
12-28:
Clearwater def. Tampa-Spoto, 6-2.
Tampa-Alonso def. St. Petersburg Catholic, 6-2.
Tallahassee-Leon def. Ridgewood, 3-0.

12-29:
Ridgewood 3, Newsome 2
Tampa-Spoto 5, St. Petersburg Catholic 1
Tampa-Alonso 4, Clearwater 2

Springstead 2, Tallahassee-Leon 1
LEON 0 1 - 1
SPG 1 1 - 2
Goals - LEON: Ira; SPG: DelPozzo, Brunner.
Assists - LEON: Santry; SPG: DeCristofaro, Sarabalis.
Shots on goal - LEON: 12; SPG: 9.
Saves - LEON: Clendenin 0; SPG: Lasala 6.
Yellow Cards - LEON: Lieblong (unsporting behavior), Risech (tactical foul); SPG: Wald, DelPozzo (unsporting behavior).
Blue Cards - none.
Red Cards - none.
Records: Tallahassee-Leon (10-2-1); Springstead (11-4-0 overall).