TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Burrows Leads Ravens, Wolves Win Shootout

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

nmurray@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

TAMPA - Alonso advanced to the semifinals of the Lady Wildcat Soccer Invitational with a 2-0 win against Durant, and Newsome defeated Sickles 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the game was called due to an injury to one of the two referees in the second half with the score tied 1-1 on Tuesday night at Wharton High.

Brittany Burrows scored both goals in the second half for Alonso, opening the scoring in the 46th minute. Burrows found a gap in the Cougars' defense to run onto a perfectly angled pass from Michele Larrinaga before shooting low past Durant goalkeeper Megan Fox from 15 yards out.

"It was a really nice pass," Burrows said. "It just happened to get out wide, and the defender went inside, so I got it from there for the finish."

Alonso had chances to add to its lead, Tifani Mullen shot over from inside the penalty area and Jenna Murphy also had a shot blocked on the goal line by Jessica Ross after a corner, but it did with four minutes to play as Amy Molinara angled a cross across the penalty area, giving Burrows a tap-in finish at the far post.

Burrows said the team was pleased with its second half performance, after Durant had taken some control to end the first half.

"After the second half go started we really got it together a little bit more, and got our passes together," Burrows said.

"It was a much better second half," Alonso coach Scott Cunningham said. "Not that we played bad in the first half, it was a little crisper and cleaner in the second half."

After Alonso opened more brightly, Durant's work-rate soon saw it winning more possession in midfield. The Cougars twice almost took the lead right before halftime. Riley Andreu created the first chance for herself, beating a defender only to see her shot saved by Alonso goalkeeper Bethany Isaac at the near post, and Andreu had a rebound chance after Isaac parried a shot by Cristina Faliero deflected wide.

"The last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half was good," Durant coach Dick Sheffield said. "Even just playing one player on top they started breaking down, and we were able to get some pressure on them."

Newsome's victory came after the game was called as the teams went to the second half water break with one of the two officials unable to continue due to a pulled hamstring. With no other official present, the game went straight to a penalty shootout, which Newsome won as Kayli Kishel, Ana Cate, Samantha Simpson and Sarah Aggers each scored. Sickles' Shannon Ogborn and Sarah Moyer both scored, but misses by Sydney Sivitz and Lindsay Murray gave Newsome victory.

Sickles was disappointed by the game being forced to end early, as the Gryphons had held the momentum for the bulk of the second half, with Taylor Valley firing a curling shot just wide just before the game was halted.

"I was pleasantly surprised, the freshmen really stepped up," Sickles coach George Arroyo said. "They remind me of the group I had four years ago, when I had really good freshmen."

Cici Gonzalez had given the Gryphons the lead in the 14th minute, with Newsome hitting back seven minutes before halftime through Aggers. Kishel started the move for the Wolves, releasing Ashley Evers down the right. Evers' cross was met first-time by Aggers, whose right-footed shot found the left corner of the net.

"We were expecting a tough team, but that was pretty surprising," Aggers said. "I'm glad our defense did well, we all worked together as a team."

Wharton and Plant will meet in Wednesday's first semifinal at 4 p.m., with Alonso and Newsome playing at 8 p.m. for a place in Saturday's final.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at nmurray@tampatrib.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT