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Pasco, Hudson In 4A-8 Final

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A Tribune staff report

Published: January 24, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - Pasco County's top two goal scorers didn't disappoint in the Class 4A-District 8 semifinals Wednesday, as Pasco's Joe Montelongo and Hudson's Scotty Combs led their teams into Friday's final and next week's regional playoffs.
Montelongo scored four times, three in the first 36 minutes, of the top-seeded Pirates' 9-1 win against fifth-seeded Gulf. Combs broke a scoreless tie in the second half with an unassisted goal that held up for the second-seeded Cobras in a 1-0 win against sixth-seeded Zephyrhills.

Combs, who has 36 goals - second only to Montelongo's 47 - juked past two defenders one-on-one down the right sideline, including Bulldogs goalkeeper Rafael Rodriguez.

"I don't even know. It just happened," Combs said of the goal. "It was just spur of the moment, just great. The goalie came out, and I took only one touch around them."

The Cobras (15-5-2) will make their first region quarterfinal appearance under Coach Paul Vescio, the school's first since 2005. They have not won a district title since 2004.
Montelongo broke his own school record for single-season goals (he scored 45 in 2005-06) and added an assist, while Cody Sumner had two goals and an assist, and Alex Hollander also scored twice.

"We came with a lot more intensity, and I told them, it's do-or-die time, and they came out and played," said Pasco coach Barry Grayling. "The starters played hard, put some early goals away."

The Pirates, 18-0-0 against district opponents this season, will be going for their fifth consecutive district title in Friday's 7:30 p.m. final at Wiregrass Ranch.

Bart O'Connell

Northeast Keeper Saves Win Vs. Lakewood

ST. PETERSBURG - Northeast advanced to the Class 5A-District 11 championship after a clutch second-half penalty kick save from keeper Ian Ronshausen allowed the Vikings to beat Lakewood 1-0.

Ronshausen deflected Spartan midfielder Shane Wixted's left-leaning shot, after Wixted was fouled in the penalty box two minutes into the second half.

"We knew it would come down to a penalty kick, and we were practicing it before the game. It was really a 50-50 shot and I guessed right," Ronshausen said.

Jasmin Mecanovik would break the scoreless draw four minutes later, after a long free kick found the striker one-on-one with Spartan keeper Kyle Scannel.

In the second game, Seminole freshman Kyle Eichhof scored the winning goal as the forward struck it big coming off the bench late in the second half to lead the Warhawks to a 1-0 victory against Dixie Hollins.

Matthew Parke

Once Again, PHU Will Face East Lake

DUNEDIN - Palm Harbor University kept with its winning tradition, defeating Largo in Class 5A-District 9 semifinal 5-0 Wednesday. PHU forward Ishmail Kamara's two-goal night helped put the exclamation point on his team's victory.

PHU midfielder Sam Venker's right-footed volley started the scoring in the second half. Shortly after, Kamara scored his second, a close-range shot inside the goal box. PHU defender Jeremy Paul and forward Sam Stein continued the second-half scoring capping an impressive all-around team effort.

East Lake played with extra motivation after watching rival PHU dispose of Largo 4-0.

East Lake defender Brent Merrick's goal in the early minutes came on a well-struck shot. In the second half, East Lake midfielder Trevor Pusch and forward Nick Patterson both scored on what can be attributed to team communication and hustle. East Lake forward Drew Smith's brilliant score just before the clock ran out typified East Lake's excellent year.

Friday, East Lake plays PHU for the district title.

Chris Daugherty

Berkeley, Tampa Catholic Earn Regional Berths

CLEARWATER - Both Berkeley Prep and Tampa Catholic secured berths in regional play next week by winning their respective matches Wednesday in the Class 3A-District 9 tournament at Clearwater Central Catholic. Berkeley Prep defeated host CCC 5-0 while Tampa Catholic edged Lennard 2-1.

Berkeley Prep and Tampa Catholic will face each other at 7 p.m. Friday at CCC to determine the district champion. The winner will begin the regional playoffs at home against the runner-up in District 10, while the loser of Friday night's game will begin the playoffs on the road facing the winner of District 10.

Berkeley Prep jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half but it may have been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Greg Michaelos that saved the day. Michaelos started for only the third time this season but was pressed into duty when starter Alex Jenkins couldn't answer the bell due to a recent facial injury. He stopped all six CCC shots.

Tampa Catholic won on the legs of Andrew Buckley's two goals. His first came on a breakaway at the 25-minute mark of the first period. His second came with 11:27 left in the game and was spectacular.

Buckley took control of the ball near midfield along the right sideline. He dribbled the ball up field racing past two defenders. He then cut inside and was met by two additional Lennard defenders in front of the goal.

Buckley deftly dribbled around one and then raced past the second, putting the ball over the right shoulder of Lennard goalkeeper Jonathan Valdez for a 2-0 lead. Buckley's ball handling past the last two defenders was so quick he literally danced out of his shin guards.

Lee Diekemper

Shorecrest, Northside Move To Title Game

ST. PETERSBURG - Top-seeded Shorecrest Prep (13-2-2) will shoot for its third straight district soccer title Friday night at Keswick Christian. The Chargers earned their berth with an 8-0 win against Keswick (6-12-4) Wednesday night in the Class 2A-District 11 tournament. They will be joined by No. 3-seed Northside Christian (5-8-2), a 2-0 victor against Canterbury (7-12).

In the first game, freshman Logan Barnett scored both Mustangs goals in the opening half. The first, a shot into the right corner of the net, came with less than seven minutes gone and the second came just before the halftime break.

Barnett left the game with an apparent shoulder injury and was taken to a hospital after the contest to be examined.

In the second game, Shorecrest scored five first-half goals to take control. They tacked on three more in the second half to round out the scoring. Five different Chargers scored, with senior Nick Swiggett hitting for three goals. Stephen Spanos had two goals for Shorecrest. Parker Wolfinger, Quinn Ebright and Evan Jerome also scored for the defending district champs.

Mike Moore

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