Manatee reaches semis with PKs

Manatee's (17-7-2) win sets up a rematch of last year's regional semifinal against Palm Harbor.

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published February 2, 2007

SEMINOLE - Manatee's Christian Raudales heard the crowd.

"I just had to use that as motivation," Raudales said.

With taunts and jeers from the Seminole stands, the junior striker calmly buried his team's final penalty kick to send the Hurricanes into the next round with a 0-0 5-4 in PKs win against the Warhawks.

"I couldn't be more proud of our guys," Seminole coach Rick Masi said. "They left it all out there."

Trailing 3-2 in PKs and needing a stop, Seminole (11-7-5) goalkeeper T.J. Grzeskowski seemed to do just that, batting Alex Torres' shot over the crossbar. But the referee said Grzeskowski moved too soon. Torres was allowed to shoot again and the junior midfielder connected.

Both teams had chances, but Grzeskowski and counterpart Robert Highley were up to the task. Grzeskowski stopped Raudales' PK in the first half and finished with seven saves. Highley made three acrobatic diving saves during a four-minute stretch of the first overtime.

Manatee's (17-7-2) win sets up a rematch of last year's regional semifinal against Palm Harbor.

Brandon Wright can be reached at bwright@sptimes.com or 727-892-2216.

[Last modified February 2, 2007, 00:05:03]