Boys soccer: LOL edges Pasco

LAND O'LAKES - It's the game everyone wanted to see.

In a matchup of Pasco County's top two boys soccer teams, Land O'Lakes and Pasco didn't disappoint as the Gators pulled out a 3-2 win over the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon.

"We knew this was going to be our hardest game this season - it really ended up being just that," said Gators junior midfielder Jake Frahm, who had an assist and game-winning goal Wednesday. "Even with thinking about going into states ... we knew we had to win this. We knew it would be the toughest game to date."

Though in different districts, the SAC title was on the line for Land O'Lakes (20-1) and Pasco (16-1), the latter atop local polls throughout the season. As the Pirates got off to a hot start Wednesday, it looked as though those rankings were correct.

Until Land O'Lakes rallied.

"Let them rank us No. 2 all year, even after this," said Gators coach Mark Pearson, who is in his 14th season at the helm.

The Pirates scored first in the 15th minute when leading scorer Eric Garcia was awarded a penalty kick after Frahm fouled a player in the box. Garcia, who's been hampered by a left knee injury most of the season, buried the goal on the right side for a 1-0 lead.

The Gators countered quickly just three minutes later as midfielder Nathan Dalton got a through ball to forward Andy Garcia, who then crossed it to fellow forward Miguel Laliberte, who put away his team-high 24th goal of the season.

Pasco went ahead in the 47th minute as Orlando Alcocer tipped the ball past a charging Kody Parker, who made five saves. Jose Flores picked up the assist on the goal.

"The game could've gone either way," Frahm said. "They have excellent players, but we matched up well, so we just had to sit back and then play our game."

Land O'Lakes, Pearson explains, was falling victim to Pasco's long-ball game of through balls to the forwards. The two teams were evenly matched on scoring chances in the first half, but the Gators were able to settle the ball and dominate the second.

"We had to settle down our game and had to stop playing with their long balls that were 50-60 (yard) air balls," Pearson said. "We don't play long ball back and forth between two teams. We needed to get back to our game, which I told them at halftime, and once we did, we controlled the game."

The Gators also had to come from behind. It wasn't until the 54th minute that Land O'Lakes tied the game, thanks to a long throw in by Frahm, finding Garcia, who headed in his 19th goal. Five minutes later, Frahm set up at the top of the box on a Justin Lyles corner kick. The Pirates couldn't clear in time, and Frahm put away his eighth goal of the season.

"I figured it'd be this close, but you can't give two goals away in the second half," Pasco coach Barry Grayling said. "They played much better than us in the second half. We had our chances to tie, but we couldn't get it in, which is how the cookie crumbles around here."

This may not be the last time Land O'Lakes and Pasco meet this season, especially if the two keep pace through district tournaments next week. The teams can face off again in the region semifinals, once and for all determining Pasco County's top team.

"It could work out that way," Grayling said. "Oh yeah, I want another crack at them. ... We'll have to see what happens at district because it all starts over 0-0 again."

"I'm not looking forward to anything, not even the district final (next week)," Pearson added. "I'm not thinking that far ahead because you can't, no matter who you are or how you're playing."

Both coaches felt the teams were evenly matched, talent-wise, yet Pearson felt if there was one advantage for Land O'Lakes, it was being more seasoned.

"Our experience of having to play from behind and come back really came through in the second half, whereas they might not have that on their schedule," Pearson said. "Our players have seen and been in this situation, so I'm just glad we responded the way we did after our halftime adjustments."

As for Wednesday's game, it may just have been what everyone wanted, and needed, to see this season.

"We were losing and needed to get up really bad," Frahm said. "We were playing fast and our players were working hard to get that final goal - to tie it up. Getting that header started us up again. We had to work hard to get that final goal, and it finally went in.

"I'm fine (playing them in a region semifinal). I'll play them again and again."