Sickles falls short

The Gryphons battle Mitchell through two overtimes before losing on penalty kicks.

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published February 9, 2005

TAMPA - Mitchell outlasted host Sickles, winning 3-2 on penalty kicks to break a 1-1 tie, putting the Mustangs in the region final for the first time.

"Intense," said Mitchell captain and goalkeeper Lauren Hudson, who blocked Sickles' last penalty kick. "It's such a great feeling to finish like that. I'm still pretty pumped."

Freshman Natasha Obara made the game-winning penalty kick to set up Hudson's block of Sickles junior Sarah Tsang's attempt. The teams looked exhausted after two scoreless overtime periods. Eleven of the 16 penalty kicks were not converted.

Mitchell may have been fortunate to extend the game. The Mustangs had only two shots on goal for the game compared to the Gryphons' seven. Also, Sickles had a goal in the final two minutes of regulation called back when a line judge ruled the cross that set up the play was out of bounds.

Sickles (20-2) got on the board first in the seventh minute on a goal by Marisa Bartelt. With space inside the penalty box to the right of the goal, the freshman shot to the far post past Hudson.

The Mustangs (23-3-1) leveled the match when Lea Weber found the net in the 32nd minute. The freshman collected a deflection in the penalty area and lifted a shot over Sickles goalkeeper Melanie Raimo.

"I'm not disappointed," Sickles coach George Arroyo said. "The girls have done a tremendous job. We only lost one game prior to this. Mitchell has a great team."

Mitchell midfielder Erin Fogarty suffered what appeared to be a neck injury in the first half when she and Sickles defender Katherine Warren collided. Fogarty was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Mitchell coaches had no information on the extent of the injury after the game.

LAKELAND - Kayla Grimsley and Angela Lewis each scored two goals to lead George Jenkins to a 5-2 victory over Gaither.

"The girls are just so focused," Jenkins coach Chris Farrar said. "Their intensity is huge."

That intensity was on display early. Grimsley scored unassisted, then Lewis scored off a cross from Ashley Craig. Grimsley scored her second goal after a free kick by Lindsey Bates to give Jenkins a 3-0 lead.

"We were overpowered," Gaither coach Dianne Schroeder said. "Jenkins played a great game. It was very tough. They were dominating our midfield."

"Kayla did a great job with quick counterattacking," Farrar said. "So when they did target their strikers and we won the ball, she went on the attack, and Ashley Craig went on the immediate attack."

Gaither tried to get back in the game when Kara Teresi scored to make it a 3-1 game. The Eagles, however, went back up by three when Bates scored on a penalty kick for a 4-1 lead.

Jenkins outshot Gaither 26-14 although Gaither had more chances in the second half. The Eagles, however, made sure that the Cowboys wouldn't get back in the game.

Lewis scored her second goal three minutes into the second half to give Jenkins a 5-1 lead. Eight minutes later Shanna Pace scored the game's final goal.

Gaither had a strong chance to cut the lead to two goals with about 12 minutes to play, but Crystal Goncalves made back-to-back diving stops to turn away the threat.

- THE LEDGER

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:44:18]