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Scots Edge Bucs 4-3

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A Tribune staff report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2009

BOCA RATON - St. Andrew's fans who expected to witness a Scots victory and a Laura Weinberg scoring binge Friday evening had to wait longer than expected.
Weinberg scored twice in the second half to give the Scots a 4-2 lead, then St. Andrew's (16-3-1) endured the bewilderment that followed a premature final whistle and defeated Berkeley Prep 4-3 in the Class 3A-Region 3 final at Don Jones Field.

Apparently, when the center referee blew the final whistle, an outside referee breached protocol by overruling him and declaring an extra three minutes should be played.

The Bucs' had only one serious threat in extra time - Amber Famighetti's long free kick that Scots goalkeeper Catalina Perez caught on the fly.

In the 15th minute, Weinberg put a shot on goal, and teammate Lauren Reilly converted on the rebound to open the scoring. Ten minutes later, Berkeley Prep's Samantha Newhaller pounced on a turnover and tied the game. Reilly scored again in the 34th minute to put the Scots ahead 2-1, but late in the first half, Famighetti's long, high free kick tied the game at 2.

St. Andrew's went ahead when Weinberg scored in the 59th minute off an assist from Reilly. Weinberg scored again in the 67th, but Newhaller answered two minutes later.

"We got caught a little bit flat a couple of times when they were pushing the ball through," Bucs coach Ken Roberts said. "It's a testament to their speed, if anything. ... They were pushing the limit all the way and they broke through a few times. In the end, they got their chances and they capitalized on them."
Palm Beach Post
East Bay Eliminated 8-0

MELBOURNE - Melbourne earned a berth in the state tourney for the second straight year by blasting visiting East Bay (13-4-2) 8-0 Friday night in the Class 6A-Region 2 final. A crowd of about 200 saw freshman Rachel Price lead the assault with three goals off the bench as the game ended 12 minutes early because of the mercy rule.

"They're a stellar team," East Bay coach Claudine Sosa said. "They have everything."

Melbourne (21-0-1) received goals from six different players to move into Wednesday's state semifinal against Oviedo at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium. The Bulldogs have outscored five postseason opponents by a combined 29-1.

For the visitors, the defeat ends a strong regional run accomplished after the Indians lost in their district final. East Bay was playing its third straight regional road game and Sosa said her squad did not know it would be playing Friday on an artificial surface. The Indians were trying to earn their second state berth.

"I'm proud of this team," Sosa said. "People counted us out a long time ago."

Mike Cherry

Palm Harbor U. Ousts Seminole

PALM HARBOR - Throughout Friday's Class 5A-Region 3 final against the same visiting Seminole team that had dealt it its only two losses this season, Palm Harbor University came up frustratingly empty.

That is, until junior forward Catherine Brinkman took control for the game's key play.

With a little more than six minutes remaining, Brinkman took a pass down the left sideline and when Seminole goalkeeper Casey Merson came well out to beat her to the ball - and failed - had an open net at which to shoot. Her long kick found the net and propelled the Hurricanes to a 1-0 victory and into the state semis.

"It was extremely frustrating, but I told the girls that they just had to finish," said PHU coach John Planamenta. "On Catherine's goal, it was a matter of her getting to the ball first. If she can get in, she can create opportunities. For her to finish from that angle shows how talented she is."

Palm Harbor (20-2), which lost to Seminole (15-3-1) by scores of 2-1 and 0-0 in penalty kicks during the season, held an 18-1 edge in shots.

Chris Errington

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