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Bears remain atop GCAC

Central's 2-1 win against Crystal River keeps it tied with Springstead for the conference lead.

By CAREY FREEMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2002

CRYSTAL RIVER -- A different field, a different Crystal River team, but the same result. Powered by two goals from Sean O'Sullivan -- the game-winner coming in the final 10 minutes -- Central followed up a victory last month against the Pirates with a 2-1 win Wednesday. "It was a good match," Central coach John Andruss said. "We caught Crystal River at a bad time before and we knew coming in that this would be much more difficult. But the team played excellent tonight."

Central (13-3-2, 7-0-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) is tied with Springstead atop the GCAC standings. The Bears need a win against Lecanto on Friday to clinch at least a share of the title. Springstead, meanwhile, faces Crystal River (12-3-2, 4-3-2) the same night.

Depleted by injuries the first time around -- six starters were absent in the 3-1 loss to Central in December -- Crystal River put up a good effort and even controlled play for most of the game.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, they couldn't contain O'Sullivan, who took the area scoring lead away from Pirates midfielder Josh Caldwell (25 goals) with his 25th and 26th goals of the season.

O'Sullivan and Central struck first when Tim Woods found the midfielder alone on the left side in the 16th minute. Unchecked by the Pirates, O'Sullivan took a couple of steps toward the goal then blasted a shot into the short side of the net that clipped the outstretched hands of Crystal River goalkeeper Adam Campbell.

The Pirates answered 17 minutes later, when Drew Austin scored his 20th goal of the season off a rebounded free kick by Kyle Griffin.

Play was even for most of the second half with neither team getting many scoring chances. But the Bears' pressure paid off in the final 10 minutes when Brandon McDonald was able to find O'Sullivan open inside the Pirates' penalty area.

O'Sullivan stepped away from one defender then put the finishing touch on the victory with a low shot past Campbell.

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