Gators notch first playoff win against a Hillsborough team
The defending state champs get their seventh straight playoff win and are one away from state tournament.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published February 11, 2004
TAMPA - The best defense, they say, is a good offense.
But isn't it better to have both?
That's how Land O'Lakes shut down and shut out host Hillsborough 2-0 in Tuesday night's region semifinal playoff at Chelo Huerta Field.
The Gators used an aggressive offense to overwhelm the Terriers, keeping them pinned and harried in their own territory. Then a physical defense clamped down on the few runs Hillsborough made.
Thus the defending state champions' remarkable postseason run continues. The Gators (22-2-2) have won seven straight playoff games and Friday will appear in their fourth straight region final.
It was the first loss of the season for Hillsborough (19-1) and Land O'Lakes' first playoff win against a Hillsborough County foe. The state tournament is one win away.
After Land O'Lakes' defense was shaken in the playoff opener, a 3-2 win, coach Vicky King expected a much sharper performance from her backfield.
What she got was an intense performance across the board. The Terriers' best shot attempt of the night came in the first half and was buried by Gators keeper Shannon Aitken. It was scoreless at halftime, but King knew it wouldn't last.
"We dominated the first half," King said. "We just didn't finish."
They did in the second half. Grace Weatherford struck in the opening minutes of the half, driving a 10-yarder dead-center into the net to score her team-leading 29th goal.
From there Hillsborough managed a brief 10 minutes of intense activity around the Land O'Lakes goal. Then the Gators took over for good, attempting 23 shots against Terriers goalkeeper Emily Fedeles.
The lead went to 2-0 when Sara Brinkley found Brittani Stoltz in front of the goal. Stoltz, who had the assist on Weatherford's goal, lifted the ball over the keeper's head in the 58th minute.
"We played with a little more confidence," King said. "Definitely they played better defense than they did the other night, but we still need to work harder.
"I think we were a little bit more physical than (Hillsborough) was, and they're probably not used to that."
In Friday's region final there will be no anticipated fourth meeting against rival Mitchell. Land O'Lakes visits Gaither, a 1-0 overtime winner at Mitchell, just across the county line at Cowboy Stadium.
"There's always been a comparison between the two (counties)," King said. "We hear there's no good soccer in Pasco County, things like that.
"So one of our goals this year was to try and beat a Hillsborough team (in the playoffs.)"
