Lady Cobras' Playoff Run Comes To End

The Hudson Lady Cobras' ran out of late-game heroics Tuesday night and fell to Eustis High, 2-1.

The regional semifinal began much as last Thursday's quarterfinal against Orlando Bishop Moore did with Hudson falling behind early and enduring a seemingly relentless attack on its home field.

Seconds after a huge save from Hudson goalkeeper Jessica Imbimbo, Eustis forward Tana Hardin netted a cross-body shot to the left corner of the goal that gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Ashley Stiefeld accounted for the assist.

Through the first three-quarters of the first half, Eustis' suburb ball-handling kept possession primarily in Hudson's half of the field. But in similar fashion to last week's game, Hudson began to show signs of life in the final 10 minutes. Cobras forward Lindsay Zullo found two separate openings within the Eustis defense and nearly converted attacks.

Zullo wasted no time in keeping the pressure on to begin the second half by drilling another shot that Eustis goalkeeper Alyssa Sapp was just able to slap up and get to deflect off the crossbar. Two minutes later, Hudson tied the match at 1-1 when sophomore Ashley Trappuzzano deflected in a corner kick.

After being outshot 10-3 in the first half, Hudson came back in the second to put eight shots on net to Eustis' six.

"At a point it was like we lost all composure," said Eustis coach Wayne Lockett. "But that's mostly due to that team (Hudson). They were excellent on defense, very good about packing the box and they were quick to cover."

With the match now tied, Imbimbo stepped up time and time again for Hudson by repelling everything the Panthers shot at her during a nearly three-minute stretch of heavy Eustis pressure. The junior keeper totaled 10 saves on the night.

Eustis' surge eventually paid off, though, in the 60th minute. A Panther forward streaking down the right side became tangled up with a Hudson defender on a play inside the Cobras' goal box that was deemed worthy of a penalty kick. Alika Keene, who scored twice in the Panthers' first-round match against Zephyrhills, took the penalty kick and successfully converted for a 2-1 Eustis lead.

Playing from behind again, a determined Cobras squad kept fighting until the game's final whistle. Zullo again blasted a near miss in the 76th minute on a direct kick and Alicia Schuering's direct kick was almost headed in during extra time.

"I'm sorry we're the one's that had to lose," said Hudson coach Christine Rizzieri. "Unfortunately in this game, it terminates the season. But we had our opportunities and had to capitalize. In these games you have to capitalize."

Though the playoff run comes to an end, the regional semifinals appearance did mark the first in Hudson girls soccer history. Tuesday's game was also a rematch from last season's quarterfinals when Eustis topped the Cobras 4-3 in overtime.

EUSTIS- 1 - 1 --- 2
HUDSON- 0 - 1 --- 1