Countryside gets by with one goal

Countryside was hoping region playoffs would trigger an offensive explosion.

By DOUG KATES
Published February 2, 2007

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CLEARWATER - Countryside was hoping the region playoffs would trigger an offensive explosion, but the Countryside got by with a 1-0 victory over Durant on Thursday.

"I thought we played much better overall," said coach David Sica, who has been concerned with a recent scoring slump. "We generated more opportunities this game, but we did not finish. We did not put that killer instinct into it. You cannot pepper this goal any more than we did and only come away with one goal."

Countryside (27-0-1) took 16 shots, but seven missed the mark. Durant goalie Chris Parsley made seven big saves to keep the score tight. He saved a shot and a point-blank rebound in the first half. He made a diving save to tip a ball wide in the second. The only goal came with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. Durant coach Jamin Hollingsworth said it was a moment he'd like to play over.

Countryside's Kyle Kuhlman took a free kick about 30 yards out. He said he put a twist on the ball and let the wind do the rest. Parsley got a piece of the shot, but the ball wound up hitting the top of the net.

Hollingsworth said his team needed to win more 50/50 battles for the ball. Durant only had four shots on net.

Countryside posted its third shutout in a row and 17th for the season.