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Showdown first, then hugs

Citrus coach Steve Ekeli has no animosity toward former team Crystal River, tonight's foe.

By DAWN REISS
Published December 6, 2006

INVERNESS - Citrus coach Steve Ekeli said tonight is like any other night. He will prepare for the game like he always does.

Though tonight might seem like any other, it is not.

For tonight Ekeli, who has spent the past few months prepping his new team at Citrus, faces the squad he coached last season at Crystal River.

This game is something, as Crystal River senior stopper Eric Swanson put it, "the seniors have been waiting for this since the beginning of the season."

It wasn't Ekeli's choice to leave after his first season at Crystal River.

Ekeli, who coaches fall soccer at Seven Rivers Christian, took over the Pirates, who went 8-13 in 2004-05, and led them to a 10-6-4 finish. They advanced to the region quarterfinals, and Ekeli earned Times Citrus-Hernando boys soccer Coach of the Year. Despite that, Crystal River principal Patrick Simon said he preferred to hire full-time teachers as coaches, which Ekeli wasn't. So his contract was not renewed.

Now, Crystal River is under the tutelage of Mike Callaway, a math and science teacher who has led the Pirates to a 7-1-1, 5-0 Class 4A, District 6 record. The system is new, a 4-4-2 that relies on four midfielders and two forwards instead of Ekeli's more attack-style with three midfielders and forwards.

"It works both ways," Swanson said. "People have stepped up."

Mostly, Swanson said, they are fired up about tonight's game, though it is a little weird to play their former coach.

"You want to beat anybody for the bragging rights and for the pure glory of it," Swanson said. "It's going to be a heartfelt game. This kind of game is about who wants it the most."

It's exactly what Ekeli expects. He wants to win, but he wants a fight. Anything less would be subpar and beneath either team's expectations.

"I love those guys, and hopefully they love me," Ekeli said. "But I expect them to check those feelings at the door as will I, as a coach. That's what they need to do. And after the game, I'll hug them and shake their hands."

Dawn Reiss can be reached at dreiss@sptimes.com or 352 860-7303.

[Last modified December 6, 2006, 06:28:07]