Christmas Does Not Come Twice

Sure, Springstead High's first-year varsity goalkeeper, sophomore Monica Vega, enjoyed a quietly effective regular season.
Her stats were solid. Posting eight shutouts isn't shabby behind a realigned defense.
Vega permitted 18 of the team's 20 goals permitted in 22 matches - or less than one a game.
That pattern continued Wednesday night at Hudson's Cobra Field - where Polar Bears certainly would have felt at home with the 25 degree temperatures - Vega stood on her head in pacing Springstead's eventual three-overtime, 2-1 win.
"I know my teammates have my back," commented the 16-year-old Vega. "I agree with some of the others, I thought I had my best match. On the big punch and in overtime, I waited until the last possible second, jumped up and made a move and it all worked out."
With the win, SHS faces No. 2 seed Zephyrhills at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in one of two 4A-8 semifinals.
SHS is attempting to reach the regional playoffs for a county-record ninth time. This winter, The Lady Bulldogs tied Springstead at Booster Stadium on Nov. 12 0-0 and fell Dec. 12 at Bulldog Stadium, 1-0.

Early Eagle score

Third-seeded Springstead (17-4-2) scored 14 minutes in the match on a gorgeous header by freshman Paige Kuhn off a corner kick entry by sophomore Alyson Brady.
That first goal felt so good," expressed the 14-year-old Kuhn, on her fifth goal of the season. "Give props to Alyson. What a great cross. I was just in the right position at the right time."
The early goal appeared to be enough until Pasco sophomore Teresa Christmas was fortunate that a bouncing ball came right to her feet five yards away from the goalmouth with 16 minutes remaining in the match.
Christmas ripped a shot inside the near post to tie matters at 1-all.
Upstart Pasco, which came into the match 1-27-1 lifetime against Springstead, was immediately reenergized with the goal. The matches' momentum swung toward the Dade City crew.
Just inside two minutes remaining in regulation, a looping Pasco shot appeared headed over Vega's head and into the nets for the winner.
At the last possible moment, Vega, however, leaped backward and punched the ball over the net.
That spectacular save was one of four on the night in regulation.
After regulation ended in a 1-all tie, the teams played two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods.
The third overtime gave way to the first round of penalty kicks.
That's when Springstead shooters resembled Annie Oakley as Brady, Ashley Walker, Kaitlyn Duke and Cristina Passafaro all converted their PK opportunities against Pasco goalie Jordan Freese.
Meanwhile, only Pasco's Rebecca Hiatt solved Vega. Vega countered by stoning Bridgett Eugenides and Mayra Torres. On blocking Torres' shot, Vega was immediately mobbed by her teammates clinching the pulsating PK round, 4-1.
"I was just trying to hit the ball and not think about the situation," shared the 16-year-old Passafaro, on the clinching PK. "I don't want my nerves to get to me."
What was the key?
"We won because Monica played the best match of the season tonight," remarked Passafaro. "When she punched the ball away with less than two minutes, that was huge. Give it up to Pasco, they played with a lot of heart."

Coaches' Reaction

First-year Pasco Head Coach Warren Lowery, a former long-time boys' assistant coach under Barry Grayling, praised everyone involved with Wednesday's match.
"Vega played a heck of a game tonight," he described. "She was the difference in the match. She was much better tonight than she was in the two games we played. We're trying to build a girls' program like Barry did with our boys. We only lose five seniors, everyone else is back.
"Tonight was tough to come out on the short end," he added. "But I thought we had more chances, but came up a little short."
Overall?
"Sure, we're a little disappointed not to win, who wouldn't be?" said Lowery. "But we played tough."
"Pasco surprised me in how well they played again," commented SHS Head Coach Polo Furlong. "They dominated more play than we did. Under these conditions, I give Pasco's players and their coaches a lot of credit. Those guys played their hearts out."
What about the Eagles' rookie goalie?
"We've been working with Monica all season," smiled Furlong. "She came up big in regulation and bigger in PKs."

Springstead 2, Pasco 1 (4-1 PKs)
PAS 0 1 0 0 0 -- 1
SPG 1 0 0 0 1 -- 2
Goals - PAS: T. Christmas; SPG: Kuhn.
Assists - SPG: Brady.
Shots on goal - PAS: 8, SPG: 9.
Saves - PAS: Freese 4; SPG: Vega: 4.
Yellow cards - SPG: Passafaro(unsporting behavior).
Blue cards - none.
Red cards - none.
Records - Pasco (8-12-2), Springstead (17-4-2).

Class 4A-8 Girls Soccer Tourney Recap
at Hudson High's Cobra Field

01-19:
Sunlake 1, Hernando 0

01-20:
Zephyrhills 5, Wiregrass Ranch 0
Hudson 6, Sunlake 1

01-21:
Gulf 1, NCT 0 (2 OTs)
Springstead 2, Pasco 1 (3 OTs-SPG wins PKs 4-1)

01-22:
Springstead vs. Zephyrhills, 5:30 p.m.
Gulf vs. Hudson, 7:30 p.m.