TRINITY - So confident in his team's potential was Mitchell coach Pio Rizzo that he ordered T-shirts that read "Class 5A, District 5 Champions" last week. And told his kids he was doing it.
The Mustangs, having never beaten Land O'Lakes in their four-year history, got that elusive victory Friday, jumping to a three-goal halftime lead and holding off the Gators for a 3-2 victory and their first district championship.
"I wanted to let them know I was confident in them," said Rizzo, whose team had tied the Gators twice during the regular season, rallying for two goals during the final five minutes in both.
Mitchell (10-2-5) struck for two goals early, both set up by Jarrod Madonna. The first came on the Mustangs' first corner kick. Madonna found Andrew Dematos, who scored on a header.
Ninety seconds later, Madonna was speeding down the right sideline near midfield when he sent a long centering pass that found Ryan Villiard in stride. He flicked a header into the top-right corner of the goal from 25 yards.
Rizzo called it "a perfect flick," and Madonna called it "certainly the nicest goal I've ever seen ... that was really quality."
Land O'Lakes went down a man with 15 minutes left in the first half when sophomore Josh Chan drew a red card. And Mitchell struck again during the final minute of the half when J.D. Barksdale scored for a 3-0 lead.
It was the Gators (9-9-5) mounting the late rally this time, however, getting a goal with 31 minutes left from Nelson Garcia, who assisted on A.J. Crotty's goal with 2:25 left to make it 3-2.
Land O'Lakes had chances to tie. But Mustangs goalie Matt Wegener made two late saves, and a breakaway during the closing seconds was flagged offsides. Coach Mark Pearson, livid with the officiating, angrily followed the officials off the field until he was stopped by administrators from both schools.
"I have no comment for the press, so walk away," he said. "I don't feel like getting a fine."
The victory continues a breakthrough season for a Mustangs program whose current seniors finished their freshman season 0-23-1. Mitchell plays host to Lake Gibson on Thursday in a region quarterfinal while Land O'Lakes travels to face Lakeland Jenkins, which beat Lake Gibson 1-0 on Friday.
