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Ocoee Ousts Alonso

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By RICK HARMON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

OCOEE - Alonso's bid for a Class 6A berth in the boys soccer state semifinals fell short Friday night as the Ravens dropped a 2-0 decision to Ocoee in the Region 2 final.

Alonso (25-7-2) was attempting to return to the 6A state semifinals for a second consecutive year in only the school's seventh year of existence.

Ocoee (23-1-3) got second-half goals from Ricardo Rosas and Alfredo Garcia to end the Ravens' season. The Knights will play Weston Cypress Bay in the state semifinals Friday.

"We had a lot of opportunities in the first half," Alonso coach Ray DiPompo said. "Their kid goalkeeper Keneil Baker made some nice saves. The post saved them a couple of times."

Both teams recorded eight shots in the first 40 minutes but neither could put the ball in the net. Every Ocoee shot required a save by Ravens goalie Nick Hall.

Ocoee broke the 0-0 tie in the 47th minute when Rosas took a pass from Garcia and powered the ball past Hall.

Three minutes later, Rosas returned the favor. Garcia got the ball deep to the left side of Hall, passed the ball to Rosas in the center of the penalty box. Rosas flicked the ball back to Garcia, who sent a low shot past Hall.

"Give them credit. They're a good team," DiPompo said. "It was a great game. Someone had to lose and it was us tonight. But it wasn't from lack of effort. Our kids played hard."

Alonso finished the game with 13 shots on goal to Ocoee's 12 but three big saves by Baker in the second half proved to be the difference.

"I told them, 'You don't score, you don't go on,'" DiPompo said.

Reporter Rick Harmon can be reached at (813) 259-7341 or rharmon@tampatrib.com.

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