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Second half belongs to Pirates

Pasco closes out the regular season with a 2-1 rally past Mitchell.

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2002

DADE CITY -- In the first half, Mitchell showed promise and signs of progress in the school's second year. After halftime, Pasco made it clear the Pirates aren't the same team that started the season, either.

In the final regular-season home game for seven seniors, Pasco was sparked by its younger players, dominating the second half and rallying for a 2-1 victory Wednesday night.

"We played their game in the first half and got behind," Pasco coach Keith Sumner said.

"In the second half, we started playing our game and it was the difference. It was all hustle."

Sumner benched four starters for the opening 15 minutes for missing practice this week, and Mitchell (4-15-2) took advantage, scoring from 25 yards on a hard, hooking shot by junior Ryan Krebster.

Even with the Pasco lineup at full strength, Mitchell held its lead through an evenly matched first half.

Pasco (8-10-1) took over one minute into the second half, when speedy freshman Ino Cano tore down the right sideline and sent a perfect cross to junior Steve Carmichael, who found the net for his second goal of the season.

"He burned them -- it was all Ino," Carmichael said. "He burned them on the outside, put it in to me, and I just got a foot on it."

Pasco continued to create opportunities, outshooting the Mustangs 12-7 in the second half as Mitchell grew impatient, firing shots high from 30 yards when it was unable to work the ball closer. "I feel we've had the strongest defense in the county. Hardly anyone's scored a lot of goals on us, except for one or two mishaps," Pasco senior sweeper Grant LaFever said.

"Early on, our heads just weren't in the game. It looked like we wanted to be on vacation or something. We finally got our heads in the game and played the way we know we can play."

The Pirates, who started the season winless in their first five games, set up five corner kicks before Mitchell had its first, and the fifth gave Pasco the victory.

Matt Prowant sent the ball in from the left corner, and when Mitchell failed to clear the loose ball in front of the goal, sophomore Gabriel Montelongo banked it in off the crossbar with 16 minutes remaining.

Mitchell, which lost 4-1 in its first meeting with Pasco, got a strong effort from goalkeeper Ryan Davis, who made several close-range saves in the second half.

Both teams begin district tournament play Monday, with Pasco hosting Zephyrhills and Mitchell facing off against Ridgewood.

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