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PHU hat trick downs King 3-0

TAMPA -- Two minutes into the game Tuesday night, Palm Harbor University flooded the goal mouth. Before the clock hit the three-minute mark, Mike Sampson headed in the Hurricanes' first goal off a throw-in by Jimmy Enzo.

Within the first 23 minutes, Sampson scored two more goals on power kicks. The first was from 15 yards on the left side and the second a spectacular 18-yards shot from the right, giving Sampson a quick hat trick in Palm Harbor's 3-0 victory against King.

Sampson's third goal went high over the defense and got by the Lions' keeper. Emil Wiklundh got the assist.

"I had a dream about making that goal last night," Sampson said. "In my entire career, I have not made a goal like that. Tonight's match was all about will. All our guys just played with a determined will to win tonight."

The Hurricanes maintained impressive control with short passes, smart take-aways and a tight defense. Palm Harbor's back line allowed the Lions only one shot in the first half.

Stopper Robert Annibale and defenders Brian McGarrigle, Alex Delgado and Jens Alverik put up an impenetrable wall to help senior keeper Matt Petersen record the shutout.

"We had a tremendous start and this was Sampson's best match," Palm Harbor coach Pablo Pinzon said. "We put Annibale on their Jeff Cummings, who we knew could score and shut him down. Then our defense just did a tremendous job throughout the match. Plus, our midfield won most of the contested balls."

Matt Savage, King's senior defensive captain, kept the score down. The Lions sweeper killed several Hurricanes runs and stopped two shots.

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