Freedom strikes in 2OT to make it to region semi

Wasted chances add up, but the steady pressure knocks out Celebration.

By ROD GIPSON
Published February 11, 2005

TAMPA - With plenty of opportunities wasted in regulation and overtime, Freedom made its first chance count in double overtime.

A little more than a minute into the period, Juan Balcazar took a crossing pass from Bobby Huertas and flipped a shot into the goal, giving Freedom a 2-1 win against visiting Celebration that sent the Patriots to a Class 4A, Region 3 semifinals.

Persistence paid as Freedom (10-4-2) continually moved the ball deep into Celebration territory with frustrating results. The Patriots outshot the Storm 17-7, but after an early goal had no success in scoring range.

It appeared Freedom would have little trouble with Celebration (14-8) early. The Patriots took a 1-0 advantage at the 26:49 point of the first period when Miguel Martes blasted a shot from 30 yards out that found the top right corner of the net, just out of the reach of keeper Scott Britain.

But as quick and seemingly easy as the lead came, it went. The Storm tied it two minutes later when Camillo Casas collected a ball in the corner, twirled and looped what appeared to be a pass toward the goal. But as keeper Hector Castillo approached, the ball floated past and into the corner of the net.

Both offenses kept attacking without success. The Patriots had several chances at a winner in regulation but missed shots high and wide, one hitting the post, and had headers go awry. Freedom almost got an own-goal, as Celebration nearly dribbled into its own net.

AUBURNDALE - Auburndale got two goals from Pascal Millien and a goal and an assist from Johnathan Bryan to beat Tampa Bay Tech 5-1 and advance to a region semifinal.

Ronel St. Louis and Louis Hepburn also scored as Auburndale (15-3-1) put the game away in the second half.

Anthony Forde scored Tampa Bay Tech's goal after a miscommunication among the Auburndale defense led to the sophomore getting an open look at the net.

With three players out with the flu, Tampa Bay played a conservative game with as many as nine players back on defense, trying to contain the Bloodhounds.

"We came out pumped," Auburndale coach Bill Johnson said of the tight first half. "The first 20 minutes, Tampa Bay Tech was standing on their heels. They wanted to make it a track meet and we got out of our game plan a little."

- THE LEDGER

[Last modified February 11, 2005, 00:53:10]