Springstead still feels sting of defeat

SPRING HILL -- The victory lap was supposed to be theirs.

But as some Springstead players sprawled like tumbled chess pieces on the field, with others wandering around in disbelief, it was a cluster of Ridgewood members who circled the Eagles' track, holding the triangular Class 3A, District 7 championship trophy in the air.

A stale first 18 minutes allowed the inspired and offensively-talented Rams to accumulate a three-goal lead that goaltender Julio Anazco never allowed the top-seeded Eagles to erase.

Though Springstead controlled play after the early lag and scored two late goals, the 3-2 loss and second consecutive defeat in a district final was no consolation for an Eagles team that expects so much.

"We never lose at Springstead," said senior forward Greg Emmerman, who sat inside the penalty box several minutes after the game. "We never lose on our field."

Springstead's second home loss in two seasons -- in only the second game this season it allowed three goals -- sends it to District 8 champion George Jenkins at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Region 2 quarterfinals.

The Eagles beat Jenkins 3-2 in the quarters last season.

Emmerman was left wondering how it all transpired,

"I don't know," he said.

"The senior leaders, we need to get the team ready to play 80 minutes, not 20 or 25. We don't think in terms of the final whistle. When there was 10 minutes left, we thought we were going to score four goals and win," Emmerman said.

That thought must have occurred to Ridgewood coach Ed McComiskey as he watched Springstead hammer shots at his goal in the final 10 minutes.

Scores by Emmerman and Ian Wald cut the Rams' lead with less than three minutes left, and a furious final flurry included a miss from Emmerman from the top of the penalty box and three corner-kick opportunities.

"I was just telling everybody to calm down because you know they are going to come back and put more pressure on you than ever before because they want that third goal," McComiskey said, his voice quivering after the game.

"Their whole season is riding on it. I told them to keep them out (of the box) and bang the ball if they got it."

But the game was lost earlier, as Ridgewood swelled with confidence after its scores -- two from Jose Anazco and one from Tanner Wolfe -- and Julio Anazco swatted away several close-in opportunities.

"We should never have been in that situation," Springstead coach Sal Calabrese said.

"We should have buried two, at least, in the first half. I don't think the boys were nervous; they've been in that situation before. They just came out flat." In the first half of missed opportunities, an Emmerman header from within 10 feet that glanced off the left post proved most disheartening.

"We just started bombing them, but we were hitting posts. The keeper made some great saves," Emmerman said.

"We just couldn't get it to go our way. I mean, the one off the post, if it's a quarter of an inch to the right it goes in side for a goal."

-- Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to brant@sptimes.com .

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