Macko boosts Bulls

By wire services
Published February 9, 2005

BOCA RATON - Bloomingdale junior forward Sara Macko put in the only goal during the penalty kick session as the Bulls edged Spanish River, with the successful kick breaking a 1-1 tie.

The Bulls jumped in front on a goal in the 24th minute.

Sophomore midfielder Marisssa Kazbour pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box and scored on a 9-yard shot to give Bloomingdale (20-2-2) the only goal it would score through the rest of regulation and two overtimes.

Spanish River (21-4-3) had the ball in its offensive end and attacked for most of the second half.

The Sharks tied the game during the 62nd minute. Junior forward Dana Reisert dribbled by two defenders into the penalty box and angled a lead pass ahead. Senior midfielder Natali Valdez blasted a left foot shot from eight yards out by senior goalkeeper Lyndsey Waters.

"Tonight it wasn't meant to be, we just came a little bit up short," Spanish River coach Kevin Turner said. "There is absolutely no shame after losing on penalty kicks."

The Sharks almost took the lead in the final minute of the second half when sophomore midfielder Katie Price barely missed wide on a 10-yard shot. There were no major scoring opportunities by either team in the overtime period.

WELLINGTON - Wellington had revenge on its mind going into Tuesday night's contest against Durant, the team that knocked the Wolverines from the playoffs last season.

While that game was decided on penalty kicks, Wellington took control from the opening whistle Tuesday, scoring its first goal within the first 30 seconds of the game.

That turned out to be the only goal the Wolverines (22-3-3) would need, as they easily beat Durant 7-0.

Wellington's Karla Espinoza took a shot from about 15 yards out to the left side of the Durant net that curved just around the hands of goalkeeper Megan Bowers and into the upper right corner, putting the Wolverines ahead 1-0.

It was Bowers' save on Espinoza's penalty kick that gave Durant (12-5-3) the win over Wellington last season.

"That goal just told us we were on, and that it was going to go our way," said Wellington's Noha Saleh, who scored two goals.

Saleh's first goal came in the 11th minute, off a crossing pass from Lindsay Sparling, to put Wellington up 2-0.

Sparling headed in a pass from Lindsey Wilkinson in the 38th minute to give the Wolverines a 3-0 halftime lead.

Wellington's defenders shut down Durant's top weapon, forward Gabi Rivera, limiting her to only two shots in the game.

"The younger kids, the older kids, across the board we just stayed the course," Wellington coach Brett Taylor said. "It was just an incredible effort."

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:45:08]