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GIRLS SOCCER: Mitchell Remains Perfect In SAC

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 7, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - It's always tough coming off an extended layoff, especially in soccer. Most of the players also play club soccer and stayed busy during the holidays, they hadn't really played together.

For Mitchell's girls soccer team, a chance to win the Class 6A-District 7 regular-season title comes Thursday when they travel to St. Petersburg so getting the chance to play a team the caliber of Hudson would only help the Mustangs.

Mitchell remained perfect in Sunshine Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory against the Cobras on Tuesday behind three goals by junior Marisa Russo. The loss ended Hudson's 15-game unbeaten streak. The Cobras hadn't lost since a season-opening 5-1 loss to River Ridge.

"We had some nice chances but [the timing] wasn't quite there," said Mitchell coach Karl Kukec. "It might have had something to do with coming back from the break. That's always tough. It was good we were able to play Hudson [at home] because Thursday we will go to St. Pete and we need a win or tie to place on top of the districts – that's going to be a very important game. It's also good [Hudson] gave us a good game."

The Mustangs (11-1-2, 8-0 in SAC) jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead as Russo, who now has 15 goals this season, scored in the 10th minute on an assist from Jessica Jagielski and again in the 15th minute on a strange play.

Hudson goalkeeper Jessie Imbimbo was given a yellow card for a unsportsmanship hand ball outside the box, meaning she would have to leave the field until the next allowable substitution time. Hudson coach Christine Rizzieri was forced to use backup goalkeeper Michelle Lang to defend Russo's free kick from just outside the 18-yard-line. Her kick floated over Lang's head for a second goal.

But Hudson (14-2-1, 5-2-1 SAC) came back in the second half and cut the Mitchell lead to 2-1 on an unassisted goal by Lindsay Zullo in the 55th minute.

"They made some of the adjustments we needed to make," Rizzieri said. "[Mitchell] has a couple more athletes than we have and that's expected – they're 6A and we're 4A. I think we made the adjustments and didn't give up. They were a little better on touches but I'm proud of the way we came back."

Russo finished the scoring in the 71st minute on a feed from Arielle Anahory.

Hudson 0 1—1
Mitchell 2 1—3

Goals—Zullo (H); Russo 3 (M). Assists—Jagielski, Anahory (M). Shots on goal—H 10, M 18. Saves—Imbimbo 8; Lang 0 (H); Seletos 7 (M). Records—H 14-2-1, M 11-1-2.

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

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