Bears' Playoff Plans Dashed

With less than 10 minutes left on the Bears' Den scoreboard, the third-seeded Central Bears appeared poised for a major upset.
But New Port Richey-River Ridge (12-8-1) earned its second win in three meetings against the Bears by rallying for two goals across the final nine minutes to oust Central (13-7-0), 2-1.
With the win, second-year Head Coach Mike McHugh's Royal Knights advance to Friday's 7 p.m. Class 5A, District 7 final against defending champion Land O'Lakes.
The Gators advanced in the other Wednesday night semifinal by blanking Ridgewood in 63 minutes, 8-0.

Breaking it open
 
After a scoreless first half, CHS sophomore Brandon Waddy snapped the deadlock 75 seconds in the second half as he gathered in a gorgeous cross from senior Nick Hernandez and tucked a shot just inside the far post.
Waddy's seventh goal of the season following Hernandez' seventh assist gave the Bears what appeared to be a formidable 1-0 lead.
The CHS defense, led by sweeper Curtis Weaver, kept the Knights off the board until the final nine minutes.
In match where No. 2 seed Royal Knights out-shot the hosts 17-6, the intensity slowly began to simmer.
For instance, in the evenly played first half, only one card (a yellow) was issued by Big Sun Officials Association center referee Jerry Cummings.
But as the clock began to wind down in the second half, the play got more and more intense resulting in Cummings doling out six cards to try to maintain order in the chippy second half.
River Ridge's Garrett Lasseter, who was given a yellow card for unsporting behavior with six minutes remaining in the first half, received another yellow card and an automatic trip to the bench for the night at 53 minutes.
The Bears, who were not carded in the first half, were issued four separate yellow cards in a 30-minute span of the second half.
The Knights, who missed on three headers within six yards of the goal mouth, consistently applied pressure on Central goalkeeper Mike Ogren (10 saves).
Just inside nine minutes remaining, RRHS captain Vinny Panetta's perfect through ball found a streaking Alex Ratkovic.
Ratkovic practically walked the shot into the goal tying matters at 1-all.
But in his exuberance, Ratkovic took off his jersey, left the pitch and began celebrating in front of the roaring approval of the River Ridge fans.
One major problem. Before play could continue Cummings issued a red card to Ratkovic for taunting and excessive celebration.
As a result, RRHS had to play a man down in the final nine minutes.
But Ratkovic's goal seemed to energize the visitors even more.
Just inside three minutes remaining, the CHS defense cracked as Jason Manaras' throw in was headed by Joey Balsamo past Ogren for what turned out to be the game winner, 2-1 Knights.
"The first goal gave us all kinds of confidence," explained the 18-year-old Balsamo following his third goal of the season. "That throw in was perfect. It could not have been any better."
Why the Cardiac Kids approach so late in the match?
"For some reason that's how we've played all year," replied the 18-year-old Manaras. "After we score our first goal, we're all into it. For us, it's a matter of getting that first goal in the net."
How about the defense?
"Our defense played tonight," added Manaras. "We'll be ready Friday. This win gives us all kinds of confidence."
While the Royal Knights celebrated, the Bears locker room was somber.
"It was a great, great match," commented Central Head Coach Hank Deslaurier in hushed tone. "The match lived up to the hype. We knew it would be a dog fight and it was. Both teams had chances, solid chances and both teams played hard. We wish River Ridge luck on Friday."
And the effort?
"Sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good," chimed Deslaurier. "A few inches here or three was huge tonight. But I asked our kids to leave it on the pitch and they absolutely did. They sold out. The kids executed the game and we played as hard as we possibly could. We just came up a little short. There will be other games."

River Ridge 2, Central 1
CEN 0  1 - 1
RR    0  2 - 2
Goals - CEN: Waddy; RR: Ratkovic, Balsamo.
Assists - CEN: Hernandez; RR: Panetta, Manaras.
Shots on goal - CEN: 6; RR: 17.
Saves - CEN: Ogren 10; RR: Jones 2.
Yellow Cards - CEN: Hernandez, Wert, Waddy, Stone (no explanation given); RR: Lasseter (2) (unsporting behavior).
Blue Cards - none.
Red Cards - RR: Ratkovic (taunting, excessive celebration).
Records: Central (13-7-0), River Ridge (12-8-1).

Class 5A-7 Boys Soccer Tourney Recap
at Central's Bears' Den

01-27:
Game 1: Ridgewood 2, Wesley Chapel 0

01-28:
Land O'Lakes 8, Ridgewood 0
River Ridge 2, Central 1

01-30:
(Championship)
River Ridge vs. Land O'Lakes