Satellite denies PHU the crown
Nationally-ranked Scorpions have too much speed for the Hurricanes to handle.
By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published February 11, 2007
FORT LAUDERDALE - The sound system playing the national anthem hiccupped at Lockhart Stadium before Palm Harbor University's state final with Satellite, forcing the public address announcer to hit restart. At the post-match awards ceremony the sprinklers inadvertently cut on, wetting the players.
And unfortunately for the Hurricanes, in between wasn't much smoother.
Satellite struck in the first 10 minutes and never looked back, ending PHU's quest for back-to-back championships with a 3-0 win for the school's third state title.
"They were as good as a team as I've ever seen," PHU senior Kelly Brinkman said. "They had a lot of good players with excellent touch."
Brinkman dropped to the turf at midfield following the final whistle as the Satellite players gathered in celebration. Teammates came over to console her, but Brinkman sat still on the field where she and the Hurricanes (21-2-0) captured the state title the year before.
"I just kept thinking my high school career was over," Brinkman said. "It's upsetting to think most of the seniors won't be playing soccer anymore."
Satellite, ranked No. 3 in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches of America Association, snapped PHU's 19-match win streak and the Scorpions (25-2-1) scored nearly as many goals (three) as the Hurricanes had given up all season (five). It also was the first time a team scored more than one goal in a match against PHU.
"(Satellite) played a lot of one-two touches well and spread us out," PHU coach John Planamenta said. "They had us on our heels all day."
Satellite was relentless in its first-half attack and put PHU in a hole quickly when Tishia Jewell scored the first of her two goals seven minutes in.
"I think mentally we were prepared," Planamenta said. "What surprised them was (Satellite's) speed."
Featuring a pair of Olympic Development Players (K.C. Correllus and Ella Stephan), Satellite appeared a step faster than PHU. The Scorpions were able to spread the wide field at Lockhart Stadium and knock the ball around the midfield at will.
"It seemed like we were chasing them all day," midfielder Molly Stack said.
Despite Satellite's domination, Brinkman nearly got the equalizer on an improbable free kick. The midfielder teed up the ball from about 45 yards away and blasted a liner toward goal. Satellite keeper Morgan Savage looked confused and barely got fingers to it as the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
"It would have tied it but more importantly that could have given us some momentum," Planamenta said. "It would have been so encouraging."
Katie Jackson made it 2-0 with a strike in the 30th minute and PHU was never able to mount a consistent attack. And when Jewell, the 5A tournament MVP, put a curving blast past Monica Lee with just under 20 minutes to play, the outcome was inevitable.
"It was a good shot," said Lee, who hadn't given up a goal all season to that point.
"And just a bad feeling (seeing it in the net)."
Fast Facts:
State Girls Soccer Tournament
Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale
Class 4A
Saturday's final
Orlando Bishop Moore 2, Gulf Breeze 1
Class 3A
Saturday's final
St. Andrew's 3, Lake Highland Prep 1
Class 5A
Saturday's final
Satellite Beach 3, Palm Harbor University