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Wolves Cruise Into Region Semis

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A Tribune staff report

Published: January 30, 2009

LITHIA - Before Thursday night's Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal, Newsome coach Kelly Townsend said she was plenty concerned about her rain-soaked field and visiting Land O' Lakes, which looked pretty good on paper.

No worries.

Not only did Newsome win, 4-0, but it dominated in every way possible.

Perhaps the most telling stat was the shots, 25-0 in the Wolves' favor, a fact that deserves an exclamation point because Land O' Lakes didn't get so much as a sniff at a decent shot.

"I'd say we're getting in sync," Townsend said. "It's tough because we're used to going to the postseason reaching five region finals and two state semifinals the past five years.

"So we have to turn it on again for the postseason."

Townsend felt a lot better after the 22nd minute when Ashley Evers dribbled through a couple of Gators and drilled a shot into the net.

"Then we said, 'All right, now we have it going,'" Townsend said.

The Wolves (22-3-1) seal the deal in the 54th minute when midfielder Ana Cate drilled a 25-yard shot into the net's left corner. Sarah Aggers and Evers padded the lead with goals in the 60th and 67th minutes.

"Hopefully we're peaking at the right time," Townsend said. "I have to say I feel pretty good about the way we played tonight."

Land O' Lakes ended its season 13-11.

Scott Purks

River Ridge Shocks Bloomingdale Late
NEW PORT RICHEY - Mikaela Morolla's late goal from 18 yards out netted the River Ridge High girls soccer team a 1-0 victory against Bloomingdale on Thursday night in a Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal.

Morolla's score came in the game's 72nd minute. She took a pass from Shelby Holley and booted it in the net's left corner. It was Morolla's 17th goal of the season.

"Holley kicked a crazy kick and it went all the way over the defense," said Morolla. "A defender headed it. I was either thinking to myself pass it to Jenny Karl or volley it and I guess I just went with the volley and we scored."

The game, played in drizzling rain on a sloppy field, was dominated by defense. River Ridge (17-2) had only six shots on goal in the game. Bloomingdale (13-4-2) had nine.

"I think we just played our match and didn't let nerves get to us," said River Ridge coach Skip Glover. "We got our opportunity. It came down to that one opportunity that we capitalized on. I think we played pretty well tonight. I think we played well in the first half. We just didn't capitalize on our opportunities."

Missed chances left Bloomingdale frustrated.

"It's disappointing," said Bloomingdale coach Sue Peet. "We had our chances and didn't put them in."

Larry Bugg

Atenza Gives Ravens Victory

PLANT CITY - Alonso finally broke down a stout Durant defense midway through the second half and advanced in the Class 6A-Region 2 girls soccer tourney.

Sophomore Elena Atenza scored from five yards with 18 minutes left as Alonso earned a 1-0 victory against Durant through a steady rain.

Alonso (16-5-1) had an 8-0 edge in shots in the second half, but couldn't produce a goal until Atenza's winner. Michelle Larrinaga sent a nifty cross from the left wing, Katie Shafer nudged it along and Atenza finished it.

"I saw the ball come across and Katie was about to take it, but I was right there in front," Atenza said. "I said, 'Katie, I got.'

"I couldn't seem to get open in the second half. But we were all trying really hard and it paid off in the end. Good teams find a way to win."

Alonso had traffic trouble, causing a 35-minute delay to the match. The Ravens started fast, but Durant (12-7-1) came back strong in the final 20 minutes of the first half.

"We told them at halftime they better step the play up," Alonso coach Scott Cunningham said. "They did it in the second half."

Durant had its opportunities, but couldn't find its finishing touch in front of net.

"You have to be able to put the ball in the net when you have the opportunities," Durant coach Dick Sheffield said. "You can't ask a defense to keep producing shutouts."

Mark Pukalo

Verbosky Gives East Bay OT Win

TAMPA - Midfielder Lauren Verbosky scored a header in the second overtime, leading East Bay to a 2-1 win against Sickles in the Class 6A-Region 2 semifinal.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Brittany Cox used her head on a corner kick in the 20th minute.

Sickles tied the game a little more than a minute into the second half when captain Jessica Montejo controlled a corner kick, her shot finding its way through a crowd in the penalty area.

Sickles maintained its momentum as Sarah Moyer hit the crossbar with one free kick, and had another that whistled just wide.

"We were definitely a little flat and didn't play the way we were playing in the first half in the second," said Indians coach Claudine Sosa. "In the first overtime, we settled down a little more, started passing and keeping the ball away from their long-ball hitters that obviously can kick it from one end to the other."

Barry Carroll

Lawrence Gives Warhawks Victory

VENICE - A goal in the first minute of overtime by Megan Lawrence, her second of the night, sent Seminole into the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals with a 2-1 victory on the road at Venice.

Lawrence took a through ball from Sydney Wendel, worked her way past a defender and slipped a short-side goal 96 seconds into extra time.

After weathering Venice's early pressure, Lawrence gave Seminole (14-2-1) the lead when Sierra Lelii took a throw in from Noel Forsman, worked down the right side and sent a cross to the middle, where Lawrence headed in her 24th goal of the season.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Warriors Bounced By Mustangs

SEMINOLE - Bradenton Lakewood Ranch took a 2-0 halftime lead, gave up one goal, and finished with a 3-1 victory against Osceola in the Class 5A-Region 3 girls soccer quarterfinals.

Nikki Kerrigan scored both first-half goals for the Mustangs (18-3-1) to put the Warriors (14-5-1) in a hole.

The Warriors perked up after the break, and broke through with 11 minutes to play on a goal by Brooke Popejoy.

The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Mustangs restored their two-goal cushion through Kaitlyn Wolfe two minutes later.

"We knew it would be tough. We had a brief letdown, but then came back strong after their goal," said Lakewood Ranch coach Gaetano Virgilio.

Mike Moore

Hurricanes Blow Past Terriers

PALM HARBOR - Palm Harbor advanced to the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals with a 4-0 win against Hillsborough.

The Hurricanes will face the winner of tonight's Plant-East Lake game, which was postponed due to the heavy rain in the area Thursday.

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