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Girls Soccer: Plant, Newsome Through To Invitational Final

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2008

TAMPA - Ellen Moore scored another two goals, and Plant advanced into the final of the Lady Wildcat Soccer Invitational with a 2-0 win against host Wharton on Wednesday afternoon. There, they will face Newsome, which won its second shootout of the tournament, 3-2, against Alonso after the teams played to a 0-0 tie in regulation.

Moore, who scored twice in the Panthers 4-0 win against King on Monday evening, and Connor Zwetsch gave the Wildcats defense problems with their attacking play, opening up space for midfielders Lexi and Linzy Rakestraw to control possession and open up the game. Plant coach Steve McGill said he was pleased to be able to use Moore in attack, after having used her in midfield in the past.

"We had Lexi and we had Ellen in the midfield, and that was how we were winning games," McGill said. "But that left a big drought up front, because we didn't have a girl that really had a nose for the goal up there. There's a couple of them that are developing it, and are going to get there, but right now, and last year, we were missing that girl who was a threat up front."

Moore had the Panthers first real chance at goal, her sharp shot from the right being saved by Wharton's Rachel Beninati. Five minutes later, in the 18th minute, Moore took a pass from Megan Fate, turned her defender and broke into the penalty area, shooting low into the left corner.

"For them, it all started up top," Wharton coach Denis Vukorep said. "Zwetsch and Moore just gave us fits, and we had to change everything we were doing to try and stop them. That made us compensate a little for our midfield, and that's what allowed them to carry more of the play, because we had to sacrifice a little bit to try and contain Zwetsch and Moore."

Zwetsch almost added to the Panthers lead later in the first half when she saw Beninati off her line, but her looping shot went just wide. Zwetsch, who transferred from Tampa Prep, set up Moore's second goal 11 minutes after halftime with a great cross from the left that Moore was able to get in front of her marker to redirect into the right corner. The two players forwards have played together before with club side RSL Florida, and the chemistry they developed there has stayed with them.

"Me and Ellen work really well together up top," Zwetsch said. "I think its going to be a good season with us two up there."

Wharton did have some chances to get back in the game, but at times appeared rushed, and struggled to make the decisive pass to create clear-cut scoring chances.

"I think part of that was that they held the ball so much that the opportunities that we had I feel like the girls rushed," Vukorep said. "I've got to be honest, some days, you lose to a better team, and Plant was the better team today. This is a game that if we're going to win, we need to give them their five or six quality opportunities, stop them, and we need to take advantage of our one or two, and today, I didn't feel like the girls had the patience when they had the opportunities to make the nice through balls or to make those decisive decisions."

Newsome, which had defeated Sickles 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday night, got goals from Kaly Kischel, Ashley Evers and Sam Simpson in a penalty shootout to advance, with only Brittany Burrows and Jenna Murphy able to find the net for the Ravens.

Alonso coach Scott Cunningham said he thought that there were some positives to be taken from holding a team that went to the Class 5A regional final last season to a draw in what was a physical game.

"They are a measuring stick for us," Cunningham said.

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