Girls soccer: Seminole puts it away quickly

By BRYAN BURNS, Times Staff Writer, and MIKE CAMUANS, Times Correspondent
Published January 22, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Count Seminole as one of the teams unaffected by the postponement of Saturday's district final games due to inclement weather.

Freshman Sierra Lelii recorded her first career hat trick and Seminole took a comfortable 4-0 halftime lead against Lakewood on Monday to take the Class 5A, District 11 title with a 4-1 win.

"I actually think it was better (we waited)," Lelii said. "Because if we had to play in that weather, it wouldn't have been too good."

Megan Lawrence scored first for Seminole (16-2-1) in the sixth minute. Lelii notched her first goal a minute later and added two before the break.

"I think going against the wind in the first half hurt us a little bit," Lakewood coach Darlene Lebo said. "That, and they were playing three forwards which is a lineup we're not used to."

Lakewood's Ashli Henkel scored in the 62nd minute to bring the Spartans (8-9-1) closer.

Seminole will have just a couple of days to prepare for Thursday's region quarterfinal against Manatee, but Warhawks coach Steve Kuplicki doesn't think his team will lack for preparation.

Lakewood travels to Lakewood Ranch on Thursday for the third straight year. The Spartans have lost the previous two region quarterfinals.

Bryan Burns 

Class 5A, District 9

TARPON SPRINGS - Palm Harbor University coach John Planamenta wants Molly Stack to slow down.

In a game postponed from Saturday due to severe weather, the senior midfielder forced herself to slow down so her shots might actually be on goal. It worked, as she scored twice in PHU's 4-1 win over East Lake for the district title Monday night.

"She goes 100 miles per hour all the time," Planamenta said. "... Her shots go 30 yards wide. ... I've been harping on her about it, and now she's getting to put some of those shots away."

The Eagles (14-5, 7-2) jumped out first when Leah Fisher headed the ball over goalkeeper Monica Lee. PHU (16-1-2, 8-0) tied it before halftime when Queli Ornelas headed in a goal.

The Hurricanes tacked on three more in the second half with the help of Shannon Healy, who had three assists. She booted in a corner kick, then Ornelas got it over to Collen Lynch.

Stack's two goals came on shots outside the goal box, the first from 25 yards out into the upper left-hand corner and the second coming on a through ball from Healy.

PHU hosts Plant in the region quarterfinals Thursday, and East Lake heads to Hillsborough.

Mike Camunas

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 01:03:31]