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Mitchell, Countryside Meet Again

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By CHRIS ERRINGTON Tribune correspondent

Published: January 29, 2008

For the third time this season and second in 11 days, the two most dominant girls soccer teams in Class 6A-District 7 will battle tonight. Not surprisingly, this final installment has the most at stake.
Countryside travels to Mitchell for today's 7 p.m. Class 6A-Region 2 semifinal, with both teams knowing not only each other intimately, but that a victory places them just three steps from a state championship.

Still, the key may lie in not focusing on the ultimate goal.

"What's really important is they don't approach this game and be nervous because that's when you make mistakes," Mitchell coach Karl Kukec said. "I don't want to hype it too much."

Twice this season at Mitchell these teams have played to 1-0 finals, with Countryside (12-6-1) winning during the regular season and Mitchell (20-3-2) exacting some revenge in the district title match. Kukec said with both teams' ability to shut down opposing offenses, there's no reason to believe this one won't be quite similar. Mitchell has allowed only 8 shots and 1 goal in three postseason games. In the district final, Countryside was limited to just 3 shots on goal.

"It's a very even game that's going to come down to whoever makes less mistakes," the coach said. "The more times you play a team, the harder it gets."

Morgan Shellenberger leads a three-pronged offensive attack for Mitchell with 25 goals, while Marisa Russo has 24 and Shelby Wright has 14 goals and 22 assists.

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