TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Switch Powers Terrapins

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHARLES GONZALEZ Tribune correspondent

Published: February 6, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Prep coach Jose DaCosta needed some energy after a lackluster performance in the first half. One simple move gave the Terrapins a boost to run away with a 5-1 victory against Calvary Christian in a boys prep soccer Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal Tuesday night.
DaCosta put senior forward Ryan Griffin into the starting lineup for freshman Jake Peterson in the second half and he made an impact immediately. In the 54th minute, Tampa Prep goalkeeper Brad Sienkiewicz sent the ball deep into Calvary's zone and Wes Sever touch-passed the ball to Griffin for the goal.

"I thought that would give us a little more energy; he's one of our captains and a senior leader," DaCosta said. "He's been a little sick so we didn't want to use him too long, but he went in and scored a goal and gave us some strength, aggressiveness and intensity up top."

Calvary Christian did a good job of frustrating the Terrapins' pass-heavy offense in the first half. Tampa Prep had 14 shots on goal in the half, but got just one goal from Peterson in the 14th minute.

"They sat back in the first half and we had opportunities and just weren't getting to the ball," DaCosta said. "It's just one of those things where a team sits back and you just create, but not a lot of openings."

Griffin's goal created a snowball effect in the second half as the Terrapins scored four of their five goals. Calvary Christian was able to push a goal passed Sienkiewicz when Greg McClimans scored on a header in the 77th minute.

Tampa Prep outshot Calvary Christian 31-6.

Tampa Prep (24-2-2) advances to the 2A-3 final Friday at Bradenton St. Stephen's (17-2-3), which beat Shorecrest on Tuesday 7-1. The winner of Friday's game will advance to the state final four beginning Feb. 14 in Fort Lauderdale.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT