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BOYS SOCCER: Land O' Lakes Dominates Pasco

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 13, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Land O' Lakes boys soccer coach Mark Pearson is a perfectionist. Even when his team dominates their opponent, he manages to find something not right with his Gators.

Take Wednesday, for example. Land O' Lakes ran its early record to 2-0 with a 2-0 win against Pasco, outshooting the Pirates (0-2) 26-12. But during halftime and following the game, Pearson stressed to his team the need for more.

"We try to learn something from every game," Pearson said. "I'm not ever satisfied and these guys know that. I expect more from these guys all the time."

The Gators scored first on an unassisted goal by Sebastian Garcia in the 16th minute. But Pasco kept the pressure on, keeping the gators out of the net despite being outshot 13-6 in the first half.

"We kind of contained them until late in the game until they got that second goal," said Pasco coach Barry Grayling. "We had enough chances to do something. I see they brought the big goalkeeper in to play us."

That big goalkeeper is Alex Spock, a 2008 Tribune first-team selection. Spock is still involved in football as the Gators won the Class 4A-7 district and will play in the region tournament on Nov. 21. Spock made 8 saves and kept the goal area cleared of Pirates.

Land O' Lakes scored the insurmountable goal in the 74th minute on a goal by freshman Nathan Dalton on a pass from Will Frandsen. Dalton, whose brother Chad now plays for North Carolina, scored his first varsity goal.

"It was a great goal," Pearson said. "It was a half-volley, full run, upper 90. Nathan has been a great surprise for us. He's playing a lot of minutes already as a freshman and I expect him to continue contributing all year.

While Pearson was happy with the result, he felt plenty was left on the field.

"We were dominate all night long," he said. "It was disappointing in front of the goal. We had opportunities that we should have put in the back of the net. We should have done better in front of the goal."

Land O' Lakes will play at Wesley Chapel on Nov. 19 and at Ridgewood on Nov. 21.

"I like the fact we play a traditionally good team early," Pearson said of Pasco. "We have a couple of good games next week before the Thanksgiving tournament in Clearwater. We're trying to go into that tournament 4-0. Every step hopefully is a step forward and not backward."

Despite starting the season 0-2, Grayling remains optimistic for district play, which Pasco begins Nov. 19 vs. Hudson, the team that beat the Pirates in last season's Class 4A-8 district finals.

"I thought the boys played well," Grayling said. "If they play like that in districts, I think we'll be all right. We were moving the ball. We had our chances. They have a good goalkeeper."

Pasco 0-0—0
Land O' Lakes 1-1—2

Goals—Garcia, Dalton. Assists—Frandsen. Shots on goal—P 12, LOL 26. Saves—Tanguma (P) 9; Spock (LOL) 8. Records—P 0-2, LOL 2-0.

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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