The defending champions hand Hillsborough its first loss in its last game.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published February 11, 2004
TAMPA - The end was met with tears, hugs and a standing ovation.
When a team wins a school-record 19 games, notches its first playoff victory and doesn't lose its first game of the season until the region semifinals, it's going to hurt.
Hillsborough High finally experienced the pain of defeat this season, falling 2-0 to defending state champion Land O'Lakes on Tuesday night at Chelo Huerta Field.
The best season in Terriers' history is officially in the record books.
But it's more than just records, coach Ron Fedeles said, that made this a special season.
"It was just the way they bonded and played for each other," he said. "It wasn't playing for me. They didn't even have a goal to make the playoffs this year. The only goal they had was to play well together.
"It was just the way they melded together and supported each other on and off the field."
That cohesiveness finally met its match Tuesday night against a team physically and mentally toughened in last season's state tournament.
After a scoreless first half, Land O'Lakes (22-2-2) broke open the game in the opening minutes of the second half when Brittani Stoltz fed Grace Weatherford on a dead-center 10-yarder for her team-leading 29th goal. Hillsborough's offense attempted a brief, frantic rally in front of the opposing goal.
But the Gators went on the attack for the rest of the second half, attempting 23 shots in all and repeatedly testing Terriers keeper Emily Fedeles, who finished with 11 saves.
Sara Brinkley found Stoltz in front of Hillsborough's net for the second goal in the 58th minute, and Stoltz lifted it over the keeper's head to go up 2-0.
One of the keys to Hillsborough's 19-game win streak was the health of its roster. Injuries sapped the team Tuesday, though. Among the missing was sweeper Holly Sewell, lost to a concussion, and center-mid Bridget Coughlin, out with a bad ankle.
