Prep soccer: Pinellas is shootout victor

In shades of 1970s North American Soccer League matches, Saturday's 18th annual Girls Senior Soccer Challenge went to a shootout.

Unfortunately for the Hillsborough side, the deciding tiebreaker that went out of fashion 20 years before the players were born was completely foreign and it showed as Pinellas broke a 1-1 tie, outdueling its opponent 3-1 in one-on-ones.

"It was so nerve-wracking and all of us were kind of freaking out about them," said Clearwater Central Catholic's Torey Camporini. "They were way more stressful than penalty kicks have ever been because that keeper is coming right at you."

Camporini notched the second and deciding shootout goal, finding an angle around Durant keeper Megan Fox. Camporini, a midfielder, took MVP honors for Pinellas as her CCC teammate Lindsey Cooper took the coaches award for the team and converted on a shootout along with Seminole's Melanie Benner.

Hillsborough looked sharp early in the match, controlling the game in the midfield before Hillsborough High forward Megan Nelson took a nice through ball from Gaither's Lauren Moore, drew out the Pinellas keeper and sent it in from about 15 yards out.

Moore took MVP honors on the Hillsborough side, earning a $250 scholarship. Newsome's Karina Gutsche earned $250 for the coaches award and a $1,000 scholarship for the Challenge's essay contest.

The second half saw an energized Pinellas team come out with an aggressive attack. In the 50th minute Shorecrest's Jenn Casey sent in a crisp goal to the upper shelf.

Both teams had chances to finish the match in regulation including a nice shot from Strawberry Crest's Samantha Buterbaugh that was knocked away by East Lake keeper Chloe Keesecker and a header just wide by Cooper for Pinellas.

In the boys match, Warren Simmons quickly shook off getting tackled in the box by Gaither's Charles Delmar as the St. Petersburg midfielder drilled a penalty kick just off the hands of the Hillsborough keeper, Durant's Connor Bass, for the only goal, earning the Pinellas All-Stars the win.

Hillsborough had some late chances, finally controlling possession in the final 10 minutes of the match including Jesuit's Tyler Hartlage one-on-one with keeper Hunter Maricle, who made the save. The Countryside net minder followed a few minutes later with another save on a laser from Newsome's Joey Perfetto.

Wharton defender Alex Stickley and Countryside defender Andrew Hitt won the MVP awards, and Simmons and Hillsborough's Daniel Barboto won the coaches award. Plant's Daniel Johnson and Countryside's Jagger Martinez won the $1,000 essay scholarships.

GIRLS SENIOR CHALLENGE

PINELLAS 2, HILLSBOROUGH 1 (3-1 Shootout)

Hillsborough 1 - 0, 0, 1

Pinellas 0 - 1, 1, 2

Goals- Nelson (H); Casey (P). Assists -- Moore (H); Shots on goal- H 5, P 6. Saves- Fehling 2; Fox 3 (H); Boylson 3; Keesecker 1 (P).

BOYS SENIOR CHALLENGE

PINELLAS 1, HILLSBOROUGH 0

Hillsborough 0 - 0,, 0

Pinellas 1 - 0,, 1

Goals- Simmons (P).