4A-9: Citrus upsets top-seeded Eagles

By LARRY BUGG
Published January 27, 2005

LECANTO - Kayla Nelson booted in two goals leading Citrus to a 3-1 upset over top-seeded Springstead.

Fourth-seeded Citrus (8-7-5) faces third-seeded Central (16-5-3) Friday at 7:30 p.m. Central (16-5-3) beat South Lake (6-17-4) 3-1 in the first semifinal.

Springstead outshot Citrus 22-11 and was tied at 1 when Amber Jordan hit a goal in the 56th minute.

Nelson scored first on a pass from Tracee Wilson in the 71st minute. Her final goal came in the 75th minute. She booted a shot that bounced off Springstead goalie Jennifer DeFrancesco and into the net.

"I have been working on my volleys on my own and I took it," Nelson said of her first goal. "The ball went through her hands. It was awesome just being able to see that. We were on tonight. We were so pumped up for this game. We had confidence and we did it."

"Ashley Christensen (Citrus goalkeeper) is a brick wall," Citrus coach Charlie Gatto said. "Kayla is a talented kid. It was a great effort by everybody."

Springstead starting goalkeeper Amber Collard collided with Kaela Fitzpatrick just before the half. Collard may have suffered a concussion and said she had no feeling on the right side of her body. She was taken to Citrus Memorial Hospital.

All the scoring was in the second half.

"These kids have done it all year long," Central coach Hank Deslaurier said. "We knew that if we stayed within our game plan that eventually we will get one through. We haven't changed anything. I think it was a great team effort. Our defense keeps us in the game."

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:41:13]