PALM HARBOR - Palm Harbor University fell behind early but came back strong Friday night in a 6-2 victory over St. Petersburg .
"They showed that they are vulnerable," Green Devils coach Dave Williams said of PHU. "But they also showed that they can play with unmatched intensity and stick with it."
PHU's vulnerability showed in the first half. Steven Whiteside's goal put the Hurricanes (6-0-2) up one, but soon after St. Petersburg tied the score, then briefly took the lead.
Desmond Keane and Mac Smith scored the Green Devils goals, both against goalkeeper Sean Kuenning, who had one save before being replaced by Phil Xanthoudakis for the second half.
Brandon Whitsett tied the score at 2 for PHU 10 minutes before halftime.
"We controlled a good 60 percent of 62 minutes on an outrageously strong team with good coaching," Williams said. "We just lost our shape. As soon as you give them control, they will take it all."
Palm Harbor took it all in the second half. Shane Burroughs finished off of Cameron Miller's second assist of the game with 23 minutes left for a 3-2 lead. After that the Hurricanes kept on scoring.
Whiteside scored his second goal, beating St. Petersburg keeper Alexander Bowers (four saves), then came Whitsett's second of the night, followed by Burroughs' second.
"We're trying to close out teams early," Palm Harbor University assistant coach J.C. Adams said. "It's uneasiness, its youth, and silly mistakes."
