PHU makes history in victory

The boys soccer team joins the girls as state champions.

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published February 17, 2006

	[Times photos: Willie J. Allen Jr.]
	Palm Harbor University's Nick Eby, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Ishmail Kamara. Moments later, Kamara was a key component in a second goal.
	PHU goalie Brent Hileman stops a kick by Auburndale High's Pascal Milien, one of eight saves during Thursday's game. Photo gallery

FORT LAUDERDALE - Nate Wysk dropped flat on his back, extending his arms to the sky. Nick Eby ran full speed by midfield and slid across the moist grass. Eugene Starikov was scooped up by booster club vice president Doug Eby, who carried the diminutive striker like a baby. And of course, coach Mike Mannino got the customary Gatorade bath.

Palm Harbor University (26-4) scored a pair of goals in a three-minute span of the first half to complete a torrid run through the final four with a 3-0 win against defending champion Auburndale for the 5A state crown.

The Hurricanes became the sixth school ever, and second public school, to win both boys and girls soccer titles in the same year.

The PHU girls beat Bloomingdale 2-0 last week. It was the second boys championship in school history, the first coming in 2002.

"We put our whole hearts into winning state and we fulfilled our goal," Starikov said. "We won a state championship, baby!"

"I was very nervous coming in," said Eby, who scored PHU's first goal. "But we deserve this, we worked so hard every day at practice."

PHU rolled through the final four games, outscoring opponents 8-0. The Hurricanes also put an end to Auburndale's 22-game win streak.

"To come in and give up no goals at this level of play and score eight goals grand total is awesome," Mannino said. Much like the semifinal where PHU scored four goals in an 11-minute stretch, the Hurricanes struck quickly against Auburndale (24-2). Eby and Thomas Harrington scored three minutes apart right at the end of the first half, seizing momentum just before the break.

"Every team in the playoffs has been strong, but we took over with those two goals right before half," Eby said.

Both teams had quality chances in the first half before PHU broke through. Ishmail Kamara's shot from point-blank range was smothered by Auburndale goalkeeper Derek Miller and Brent Hileman just got fingers to Kyle Sample's attempt, ricocheting the ball against the crossbar before it was cleared.

But it was Eby, who came into the game with just two goals, who got the only strike PHU would need in the 35th minute. Josh Roberts played a cross in from the right flank that Starikov and Miller both went up for. Starikov just got a piece of the ball and it deflected right to a waiting Eby.

"I'd barely scored all year and to get the first goal of the state championship is just crazy," Eby said. "This feels amazing."

Harrington put PHU up 2-0 in the 38th minute with his sixth strike of the season. Kamara got his head on a strong throw in from Max Venker, sending it toward the middle of the box. The ball fell into a scramble of legs and squirted free right to Harrington, who was running full speed from midfield and the senior defender squarely drilled it into the upper left corner.

"The ball kind of fumbled out while I was running up," Harrington said. "And it was just right there."

Hileman was brilliant in goal, making eight saves. The senior got tremendous help from fullbacks Nate Wysk, Levi Curnutte, Jamison Sweat and Harrington, shutting out an offense that featured 49-goal scorer Pascal Milien.

"Can't end a season any better than two goose eggs," Hileman said.

And what PHU win would be complete without a strike from Starikov? The junior transfer from California banged home his 43rd goal of the season in the 70th minute.

"Eugene wouldn't let the game end without getting one," Mannino said. "He wanted to be the last straw that broke their back and he did it."

Schools that have won boys and girls soccer championships in the same year:

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (1996, 1997, 1998, 2005)

Boca Raton Spanish River (1997)

Clearwater Central Catholic (1997)

Melbourne Central Catholic (2003)

Plantation American Heritage (2005)

Palm Harbor University (2006)

[Last modified February 17, 2006, 02:15:35]