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BOYS SOCCER REGION SEMIFINALS

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2009

Matches at 7 tonight unless noted

Class 6A-Region 2

MITCHELL (15-12) AT DURANT (24-2)

Durant already has set a school record for wins and is now seeking to return to the regional finals, the farthest it has advanced in boys soccer. But the Cougars must get past a Mitchell squad that has gone unbeaten in its past seven matches and has outscored opponents 18-7 in that span. The Mustangs lost to Durant 3-2 in a December tournament, but they are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over East Bay, a team that lost by only a goal to Durant three times this season. Mitchell will have to deal with the dual striker threat of the Cougars' Popsie Clarke (21 goals) and Billy Fanning (25 goals), while Durant will try to contain junior forward David Vasquez (12 goals, 11 assists).

Class 5A-Region 2

LAND O' LAKES (22-2-2) AT FREEDOM (14-2-5)

Freedom takes on one of the area's hottest teams - Land O' Lakes, which is undefeated in its past 13 matches and ranked No. 40 nationally in the ESPN RISE Fab 50 poll. In their last game, the Gators knocked off regional rival and last year's 5A state champion, Wharton, 2-1 in extra time. Now they face Freedom, another area nemesis that has ended Land O' Lakes' season twice in the past three years in the regional quarterfinals. Freedom has taken a relatively low-key approach to the season, opting out of holiday tournaments and instead priming itself for the grind of the state playoffs. Led by strikers Deion Jones (12 goals, 12 assists) and Taylor Nalls (11 goals), the Patriots certainly have the firepower. Question is, do they have the defense to stop a Gators team on a roll and boasting two players with staggering totals: Dominic Cutrofello (36 goals, 21 assists) and Felix Soto (21 goals, 6 assists).

Class 5A-Region 3

PALM HARBOR UNIVERSITY (20-4-4) AT JESUIT (24-1-1)

Nationally ranked Jesuit (No. 21, ESPN RISE) escaped with a penalty-kick win against No. 20 East Lake on Friday, a match where several of Jesuit's flu-ridden players took intravenous fluids to keep playing. Tigers coach Bob Bauman is hoping his squad can recover in time to face another solid opponent, Palm Harbor University. The Hurricanes are coming of a 2-0 win over Leto in the regional quarterfinals and will face one of their most-difficult challenges of the season when they travel to play Jesuit on its artificial turf. Since the Tigers put down that carpet at their school, no one has managed to beat them on it. Both squads like to play attacking soccer and this could be a high-scoring affair. Both schools also are looking to get back to the state finals. Six-time state champion Jesuit was knocked out of last year's state semifinals 1-0 by eventual champion Wharton. The Hurricanes were state champs in 2002 and 2006 and state runners-up in 2007.

SEMINOLE (17-8-3) AT BRADENTON LAKEWOOD RANCH (16-3-4)

For a school in only its 11th year, Lakewood Ranch has been a fixture in the postseason with five appearances since 2000. Having steadily grown and moved up in classification, the Mustangs face two-time state champion Seminole in the regional semifinals, the farthest they've ever advanced. The Warhawks have played erratically in recent matches but have found a way to win. In the regional quarterfinal, Coach Rick Masi said his team began out of synch but two goals from forward Maurice Lelii and one from Jacob King powered Seminole to a 3-1 victory over Punta Gorda Charlotte, a team playing in its first regional. Lakewood Ranch won its regional quarterfinal 1-0 over Osceola.

Class 4A-Region 2

CELEBRATION (15-2-2) AT HUDSON (18-5-3)

Until last week, Celebration had never managed to post a playoff victory in three previous appearances. But that changed when the Storm recorded a 2-0 win against Pasco, a team that had beaten them in the regional quarterfinals the previous two years. Hudson won its first regional quarterfinal since 2005 when it knocked off Orlando Bishop Moore 2-1 in overtime. Hudson is 1-4 all-time in region semifinals with that lone win coming in 2003, when the Cobras beat Bishop Moore 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Class 3A-Region 3

BERKELEY PREP (24-2-2) AT FORT MYERS BISHOP VEROT (17-4-2)

Berkeley Prep, ranked No. 48 in the ESPN RISE Fab 50 national poll, is taking on a familiar foe: Bishop Verot, the same school it defeated 4-1 last season at this stage of the playoffs. This time, the Buccaneers will travel to Fort Myers and play on Bishop Verot's field turf. To prepare for that surface, the Bucs trained Monday on Jesuit's field, a similar surface. Like other area squads, Berkeley has dealt with a flu bug and assorted injuries, but most of Coach Tim Cooper's players are now healthy and ready for tonight's match. Bishop Verot is paced by senior midfielder Will Goss, who was recently named to the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America Team. The Bucs' attack is led by T.J. Roehn, J.D. Post and Eri Jacobs, who have combined for 52 goals and 37 assists. Joey Rosati leads Berkeley in assists with 22.

Class 2A-Region 3

BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN (12-8-1) AT TAMPA PREP (12-4-4)

Tampa Prep is attempting to win its third consecutive state title and fourth in five years. For a time this season, the Terrapins struggled, losing four times and drawing twice during an eight-match stretch. But since late January, Tampa Prep is undefeated, winning its past four matches by a combined 13-3. The Terps won last week's regional quarterfinal over Academy at the Lakes 3-0 with two star players - striker Wes Sever and midfielder Alex Tuch - sitting out due to illness. Bishop McLaughlin earned its second region semifinal appearance in three years with a 3-1 win against Cambridge. Tampa Prep is 4-0 against Bishop McLaughlin all-time, but only managed a 1-0 win in their lone meeting this season (Dec. 9).

SHORECREST PREP (18-3-3) AT ST. STEPHEN'S (16-4-1), 3:30 P.M.

This is a rematch of last year's regional semifinals, which St. Stephen's won 7-1. But don't expect a similar score line this time. The Chargers, led by striker Stephen Spanos and guided by second-year coach Jeff Diedrich, are a much-improved side from last season and are looking to make a deep run into this year's playoffs. Spanos has been a scoring terror to opposing defenses, netting a Pinellas County-leading 48 goals. St. Stephen's has had a mixed bag of results against some of the area's better sides, losing 4-1 to 3A Berkeley Prep but knocking off defending 2A state champion Tampa Prep 3-2.

Bill Ward

BOYS SOCCER REGION SEMIFINALS

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