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Girls Soccer: Bulls, Wolves To Clash Again In District Final

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A Tribune staff report

Published: January 23, 2009

LITHIA - Bloomingdale edged Wharton 1-0 and Newsome outlasted Freedom 1-0 in a shootout (winning 2-1 in penalty kicks) Thursday night in the Class 5A-District 8 girls soccer semifinals.

The wins set up the fourth straight district final between Bloomingdale (13-2-2) and Newsome (20-3-1), which will take place at Newsome tonight at 7.

Newsome goalkeeper Kendall Graham, who missed the bulk of the season with illnesses, was nearly unstoppable in goal in the shootout, stopping four Patriots strikes. Only leading Patriots scorer Monique LaMotte struck for Freedom off of Graham's hands, but the Wolves got two in the shootout from Morgan Sammons and Liz Haumschiled for the win.

After the match, Wolves coach Kelly Townsend was complimentary of Freedom (10-3-2).

"I wish that match was for the final," Townsend said. "Freedom has improved so much since the last time we saw them and it's unfortunate they won't be there in region play."

In the night's first match, Bloomingdale junior midfielder Kara Buono broke the tie in the 13th minute, beating a Wharton defender in the box and putting in a goal to the far post where Wildcats keeper Rachel Beninati had no chance to reach the ball.

Wharton (10-13-1) managed only five shots on goal in the match but did receive solid play from Beninati, who had seven saves, and defender Allison Meyer, who had two big defensive stops in the Wildcats box late in the second half.

Jarrett Guthrie

Zephyrhills, Hudson To Meet In 4A-8 Final

HUDSON - In 16 Class 4A-District 8 games this season, Zephyrhills scored 42 goals while giving up only 13. But when it came to Springstead, the second-seeded Bulldogs had failed to find the back of the net - playing to a 0-0 tie and losing 1-0.

But Thursday in the semifinals of the Class 4A-District 8 tournament, Amber Morgenstern scored an unassisted goal in the 19th minute for the only goal of the game as Zephyrhills advanced to tonight's championship game - and earned a spot in next Thursday's region quarterfinals.

Zephyrhills (16-6-1) will face top-seeded and host Hudson. The Cobras defeated Gulf 4-0 in the other semifinal. Hudson beat the Bulldogs twice (3-1 both times) in the regular season.

"We've lost to Hudson twice this year and we're due," Zephyrhills coach Michael Mira said. "We're looking forward to the challenge of playing them again."

Zephyrhills outshot Springstead 16-4, including 11-4 in the first half. The Bulldogs were forced to start backup goalkeeper Kate Patton because starter Brittni Manautou was attending a funeral. Manautou, who has 11 shutouts this season, arrived at halftime and was immediately inserted in the lineup. Neither Patton or Manautou had to make a save.

Hudson got two goals from Lindsay Zullo and a goal and an assist from Alicia Schuering and Erica Wills as the Cobras will play in the championship game for the third consecutive year.

Gulf (11-8-4) was able to stay within striking distance for the first 63 minutes but Schuering's unassisted goal in the 64th minute was more than the Buccaneers could handle. Gulf, the No. 4-seed, played a double-overtime game Wednesday while the Cobras hadn't played since Tuesday.

"Being the first seed is not always an advantage," said Hudson coach Christine Rizzieri. "The games you have coming into this kind of game doesn't always prepare you when you play a team like Gulf. Gulf always plays us tough."

Gulf coach Shari Schau stressed the importance of being one of the top seeds to her team after the game.

"I think the kids got real tired, real quick in the second half," Schau said. "That's why you fight for the top seeds – so you have an easier way to the district finals. I thought our girls put up a pretty good fight."

Rick Harmon

Indian Rocks Upsets Shorecrest For Title

ST. PETERSBURG - Indian Rocks Christian defeated top-seeded Shorecrest 2-1 to win the Class 2A-District 10 championship.

The host Chargers (11-6-1) had won three straight district titles but were unable to get a goal when they needed one this time. The two old rivals had met twice this season, with the second-seeded Golden Eagles (13-6) losing both games.

The teams battled through about 37 scoreless minutes in the first half, before Shorecrest's Jenn Casey drilled a shot into the corner of the net.

Indian Rocks Christian's Jensen Eifert scored on a breakaway with 24 minutes to play and Hannah Davis hit the game-winner with just under 19 minutes remaining.

Mike Moore

Seffner Christian Falls In Semifinals

LAKELAND - Despite some solid defending and goalkeeping, Seffner Christian Academy's season came to an end when the Crusaders suffered a 2-0 loss to Lakeland Christian in the semifinals of the Class 2A-District 6 tournament at Santa Fe Catholic.

Having suffered setbacks of 3-0 and 4-0 to Lakeland Christian during the regular season, the Crusaders, whose girls soccer program is in just its third year, were the clear underdogs in Thursday's match.

But tight man-marking by Seffner Christian (9-6-2) and standout goalkeeping by Lauren Swartz (nine saves on 21 shots) made it difficult for the Vikings (14-5-3) to finish chances the entire game.

It took a great cross into the box by Lakeland Christian's Lauren Wasilewski to the head of teammate Hannah Webster to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute and the second goal - a penalty kick converted by midfielder Gaines Griffin - didn't come until there was less than eight minutes to play.

In tonight's title game, the Vikings will play Santa Fe Catholic, a 2-1 winner against Winter Haven All Saints' in Thursday's other semifinal.

Bill Ward

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