Panthers fall short at Palm Harbor

The disappointment was etched on the faces of the Plant Panthers as they trailed away from the handshake line.

It wasn't so much that they had lost 2-0 to Palm Harbor University in the Class 6A-Region 2 semifinals on Tuesday night, but the manner of the defeat.

"We just didn't play the game," center back Amy Werdine said. "We were all psyched for it, we were ready to play, but it just wasn't our night tonight."

Palm Harbor, for its part, looked every bit the ESPN Fab 50 No.10, especially to open the game, as forwards Catherine Brinkman and Kelly Phipps repeatedly hassled and harried the Plant defense into giving away possession cheaply.

The Hurricaned had gone close to taking the lead in within the first 15 minutes, Phipps having a good shot turned wide by Plant goalkeeper Lauryn Bodden and the Panthers Megan Bryant clearing a shot off the line from the ensuing corner.

The Hurricanes took the lead in the 19th minute, though, as Phipps was brought down in the penalty area, with Brinkman converting from the spot.

Brinkman then headed home her second goal off a beautiful angled free kick by Zoe Lombard from 45 yards out on the right side in the 50th minute.

"Those are things we've been working on all year," PHU coach John Planamenta said. "Zoe played a great ball in, and Catherine got on the end of it, and we had the perfect angle, we saw it going in the whole time, it was nice. Something like that gives the girls a little more confidence."

The Panthers finally played the way they had for the bulk of the season in the final 20 minutes, but they weren't able to seriously test PHU goalkeeper Cristina Brewer.

"The last 20 we looked more like us," Plant coach Stephen McGill said. "Possessing the ball, moving it left and right, holding it and not being so apt to get rid of it. I think that was basically the key, we didn't hold possession the entire first half, and that haunts you."

Planamenta said he had stressed to his side the importance of coming out strong to start the game, and was very happy with the way Brinkman and Phipps performed.

"I think our front-runners did a great job starting our defensive line, putting pressure on their back players," Planamenta said. "Those girls were working hard, and that's where it starts. Everybody behind them working hard defensively, and when you have your front-runners working hard defensively it causes panic, not letting those back-players, who are strong players and can attack out of that, not giving them them time, not giving them a chance to attack or get into a rhythm."

The Hurricanes will now travel to face Apopka in the region final on Friday night as they continue their pursuit of a second straight state championship.

"It means a lot," Brinkman said. "I've been to region finals three out of the four years here, and it's a big deal and it's going to be a tough game."