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Wharton Earns First State Berth

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 9, 2008

TAMPA - Wharton (16-5-2) made boys soccer history, advancing to the state final four next week by defeating defending state champ Auburndale (9-5-2) 3-1 in the Class 5A-Region 2 final Friday night.

The Wildcats, who hadn't been past the region quarterfinals in school history, took a two-goal advantage into halftime, and after a Bloodhound goal in the first five minutes of the second half, Wharton maintained ball control and played tremendous defense.

Wharton struck in the fourth minute when Ryan Asare-Bediako froze a defender in the box, dribbled around him and sent the ball to the far post past a diving keeper.

The Wildcats added one right before the first-half water break on a heady play. Matt Montgomery took a hard pass and headed softly to Will Hunt, who sent a pass back to Montgomery, who lofted a high shot that dropped in over the keeper.

"That was probably one of the best goals I have seen in a long time," Wildcats coach Scott Ware said. "Matt Montgomery had the smarts to head the hard pass to Will, who passed it back to Matt - a little give-and-go."

Five minutes later the Bloodhounds had their best shot at a goal in the first half on a shot that bounced above goalkeeper Scott Montgomery but was kicked away by sweeper Matt Noble.

"My heart just started beating really fast," Noble said. "I knew I couldn't let them score and I had to get there before they scored."

Ware said Noble has been counted on all season for those types of plays and the stop was key for the Wildcats.

"It would have been a different game if that would have went in," Ware said. "He's my junior captain and I have him at sweeper for a reason."

The Wildcats' third goal came on a shot by Joe Layton to the far post.

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