Academy At The Lakes Pulls An Upset

SHADY HILLS - Academy at the Lakes lost three times to Hernando Christian during the regular season, yet won the meeting that mattered most.

The Wildcats (4-13-1) overcame a 1-0 first-half deficit to shock HCA (9-5-5) 6-5 in penalty kicks, advancing to the Class 2A-District 9 final and clinching a regional quarterfinal berth in their first season competing in FHSAA district competition.

On Friday, they will face host and top-seed Bishop McLaughlin, which beat Carrollwood Day School 7-0 in the nightcap.

"My kids came through; we got some key plays at some key times," AATL coach Don Bellefeuille said. "To be honest, we just haven't had our whole team together until towards the end of the year."

Freshman Jason Pitcarin's header off a free kick from his older brother, Daniel, tied the game two minutes into the second half. Sean Byrne had HCA's lone goal. The game remained tied after two 10-minute overtime periods and a round of PKs. HCA missed a tying penalty kick wide right to give the Wildcats the win.

Academy at the Lakes lost 6-1 to HCA in the last meeting on Jan. 8, and lost by three goals in the first two meetings. The Wildcats' defense was crucial in Tuesday's win.

In the second game, a 45-minute weather delay preceded Bishop McLaughlin's (6-6-6) lopsided win, and the game was called early due to lightning. The Hurricanes outshot CDS 38-1, got two goals apiece from Matt Gronau and James McCarragher, and two assists from Matt Gulau and Nick Hellman. Patriots (0-9-1) goalkeeper David Walker made 14 saves.

The winner of this district will face the runner-up in Class 2A-10, which includes Tampa Prep and Cambridge. The runner-up will face the 2A-10 winner.

CCC 1, ST. PETERSBURG CATHOLIC 0: In Clearwater Central Catholic coach Jim Harte's 21 seasons at the school, he has only had two players transfer in from rival school St. Petersburg Catholic. One of them, Jeremy Park, is currently a senior defender.

Park picked a perfect time - for the host Marauders - to reintroduce himself to his old school. Park's goal off a rebound at 29:51 of the second half would be the lone goal of the game, giving CCC a win against SPC Tuesday in the Class 3A-9 district quarterfinals.

As a result, CCC (3-18-2) will face Berkeley Prep tonight at 6 p.m. at CCC in the district semifinal.

Lennard will play Tampa Catholic at 8 p.m. in the second semifinal game. The winners of both games secure a berth in region play beginning next week.

Park's goal ended SPC's season at 9-5-4.

Park, who transferred to CCC as a junior last year, ran down the side of the field as teammate Jeff Ijjas hit a short but point-blank shot at SPC keeper Nick Filtz just inside the box. Filtz tried to scoop the ball but failed to secure it as it bounced to his right and into the path of Park, who wasted no time in booting the ball past Filtz.

"I didn't expect a rebound," Park said. "It was just instinct."

Lee Diekemper