Wildcats the sharper team

Wesley Chapel avoids costly mistakes, fields a healthy team to start the season off right.

By STEVE LEE
Published November 9, 2006

TRINITY - Jon Koshko missed Wednesday's game with a fever, but being without half its 1-2 scoring punch from last season was no excuse for Mitchell's letdown.

The Mustangs fell to 1-1 with a 3-1 loss to Wesley Chapel.

The loss comes one night after Mitchell won its opener, 4-0 over Ridgewood with Koshko, second on the team with 13 goals last season, out sick for that game as well.

"With or without him, I expect a lot more," Mitchell coach Oscar Ubillus said. "It was a lack of heart and it showed throughout the game.

"Everyone was pumped up for the first game. Tonight, maybe they had a big head from (Tuesday)."

Unlike Ubillus, Wesley Chapel coach Brian Dorkowski liked what he saw in his team's first game.

"I think we looked pretty good," Dorkowski said. "Mitchell is a tough team, but they were without one of their best players."

All four goals came in the first half, with the Wildcats (1-0) striking first. Jose Ojeda passed to Andres Monsalve, who scored in the second minute.

Mitchell tied it at 1 when Anthony Santacroce converted a crossing pass from Adam Walker in the 12th minute.

The tie lasted less than two minutes as Daniel Valdez restored the Wildcats' lead on a penalty kick.

The game's final tally came off a Mitchell mistake. Goalkeeper Rob Biesiedzinski saved a point-blank blast from Vince Lopez, but Travis Madonna kicked it into his own net on an errant clearing attempt.

"We got a couple of nice breaks," Dorkowski said. "We tapped one in early and then got the PK."

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 00:37:24]