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A miscue by the Mustangs' defense gives Pasco the victory.
By WAYNE GRUMET
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2002
TRINITY -- Mitchell and Pasco played nearly flawless defense for 79 minutes Wednesday.
The Mustangs finally blinked, failing to clear a ball in their zone.
Pasco's Amanda Newsome took advantage of the miscue, sending a 25-yarder over retreating Mitchell keeper Lauren Hudson.
Pasco held off the Mustangs in the final moments for the 1-0 win.
"We've been telling them all game that the goalie's always off the line so send it back in there," Pasco coach Barry Grayling said. "It paid off.
"That's the way it goes. We didn't get many chances."
Mitchell (9-7-5) dominated the ball in the second half, outshooting Pasco 11-5. However, the Mustangs couldn't convert against Pasco keeper Shelly Harrelson and her defense.
For most of the game, Pasco's defenders forced Mitchell into awkward shots.
When the Mustangs did get a shot, Harrelson was there to stop it. The junior finished with 16 saves on 22 shots.
Mitchell missed two golden opportunities in the final five minutes.
Alyssa Petrella booted a wide-open 15-yarder to Harrelson. Pasco's keeper later stopped a point-blank shot by Lindsey Sowder.
"It was just one of those nights. You have to pound it into the goal," Mitchell coach Steve Doyle said.
"One or two people not where they belong and that hurts us."
Pasco (7-8-3) did get a ball past Hudson earlier in the second half but the goal was disallowed.
Hudson came out of the box to try and keep Pasco's Francis Rubio from getting to a long pass.
The ball ricocheted off Hudson and Rubio managed to corral the ball.
Rubio got past Hudson for the goal, but the official ruled that Rubio got her hands on the ball during the exchange.