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Mitchell Girls Are 1 Win From Final Four

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By RICK HARMON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

TRINITY - Marisa Russo called her overtime goal Tuesday night "probably one of the most memorable goals I've made."

If the sophomore has anything to do with the outcome of Mitchell's Class 6A-Region 2 girls soccer final at Melbourne on Friday, she just might have to rethink that statement.

The Mustangs (21-3-2) moved one step closer to a state final four appearance Tuesday with a 2-1 overtime win against District 7 foe Countryside (12-7-1).

Russo scored both goals to give her 26 on the season. But none was more important than the "golden goal" 1:45 into overtime.

Senior Morgan Shellenberger sent a perfect pass to Russo, who was camped out at the top of the penalty box, with her back to the goal. Russo wheeled and sent the ball into the far corner of the net, past the outstretched arms of Cougars goalkeeper Cristina Brabson.

"If you noticed during the game, she got the ball with her back to the goal but she tried to get it to her other forwards," Mitchell coach Karl Kukec said. "We told her if she got the ball in the penalty area in overtime to shoot."

Things didn't start well for the Mustangs. Countryside's Thea Linkfield scored in the second minute of the game as she took a pass from Tanya Bawkins, split two defenders and went high on Mustangs goalkeeper Laura Seletos.

"I wasn't too worried about the early goal because I know the girls have the character to come back," Kukec said. "They don't give up. They're confident about themselves and what they can do. I have the most confidence in those girls. We have a good mix of seniors ... with freshmen and sophomores mixed in. They have come together as a team."

Russo tied the score in the 16th minute on an unassisted goal from 30 yards away.

The win puts the Mustangs in the regional final for the first time since 2005. Mitchell lost to Lakeland Jenkins in penalty kicks in the 5A regional final that season. Mitchell moved to 6A in 2006.

"We have 10 seniors and more than half of them play on the field," Russo said. "We feel like this is our year and we want to put everything out there on the field."

Mitchell hasn't lost since Nov. 27 - a 1-0 loss to Countryside. Since then, the Mustangs are 13-0-1.

"We're going strong," Kukec said. "It's just the attitude and character of the team which I'm very proud of. Since we've been in 6A, we haven't had the success we had in the past.

"We don't have just one star on the field ... we have many. Everything has fallen together this season. I think they have the ability to do it go to the final four."

With a win Friday, the Mustangs would play their state semifinal game Friday at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Keyword: Pasco Sports Photos for a photo gallery from Tuesday's Mitchell-Countryside district semifinal game by staff photographer Fred Bellet.

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