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The Pirates puzzle

Springstead has had trouble figuring out how to get past tonight's opponent, Pasco, this season.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published January 26, 2007

SPRING HILL - Sal Calabrese peered from behind his dark sunglasses and pondered the question.

Can a Pasco team that hasn't lost a game in close to a year, that advanced to last season's final four, that has made a habit from coming from behind against Springstead, really be beaten?

Calabrese hemmed and hawed and pondered some more.

Well, can they?

"That's hard to answer," said Calabrese, whose Eagles face the Pirates in tonight's Class 4A, District 8 championship. "I don't want to (make them mad)."

The short answer is, yes, the Pirates can be beaten. But Springstead has had a devil of a time doing so the past two years. In last season's district final, the Eagles were up 2-0, but ended up losing 3-2 in overtime. This year, they held a 3-1 lead, but ended up tying 4-all. And, later this season, they trailed 2-1 before allowing a late goal and losing 3-1.

Tonight, Springstead hopes it will finally clear the hurdle that has been the Pirates. For the past three years, the teams have been among the best in the area. In 2004, the Eagles advanced to the region finals before losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to Lecanto. Last year, Pasco reached the final four before losing to Middleburg.

"It's a pretty big rivalry between us," Springstead defender Deren Koshefsky said.

Pasco, like Springstead, has some individual stars. But both teams find their strength in continuity.

"I just think they have a combination that has jelled over three years," Calabrese said.

Both teams enter the game with much more than a district title on their minds. They both have qualified for the state playoffs, and they both have experienced enough success to leave them thirsting for more.

While Pasco's undefeated run through the regular season garnered plenty of headlines, Springstead lost just two games, and the Eagles are hopeful they can replicate their 2004 run to the region finals.

"Can we do that?" Calabrese asked, again pondering for a while. "It's hard to say."

[Last modified January 25, 2007, 23:09:58]