Girls soccer: Mustangs face familiar foe

Hoping to keep its unbeaten streak alive, Mitchell takes on Countryside.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published January 29, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Lance Aram Rothstein | Times] Mitchell's Morgan Shellenberger, right, with a team-high 25 goals, battles with Alonso's Ali Isaac.

During the past two months, Mitchell has rattled off one of the more impressive runs in recent county girls soccer history: 12 straight games without a loss, 11 wins, one tie and a defense that has allowed just five goals since Nov. 27.

The last team to beat the Mustangs? Countryside, which happens to visit Mustang Stadium tonight for a region semifinal that will see one of the two Class 6A, District 7 rivals advance to the region final.

"I think we're pretty much equal teams," said senior forward Morgan Shellenberger, who has scored 16 of her team-high 25 goals during Mitchell's 12-game undefeated streak.

The scoreboard backs up that assertion: Countryside 12-6-1 drew first blood during a regular-season game in late November, beating Mitchell 1-0. But the Mustangs responded in the 6A-7 title game two weeks ago, getting a goal from Shelby Wright in a 1-0 win of their own.

"I think throughout the season, the team gets stronger as a team and we've been bonding more," Wright said, "so we learn how each other plays."

All season, the bulk of Mitchell's scoring has come from Shellenberger and sophomore Marisa Russo, who scored two goals in the Mustangs' 5-1 win over Sarasota Riverview in the region quarterfinals last week. The defense, meanwhile, has allowed just 14 goals, while keeper Laura Seletos has 13 shutouts.

But it has been the play of the Mustangs midfield that has solidified the team. Wright, a sophomore, started the season at forward before asking coach Karl Kukec to move back to her natural position at center-midfield. Kukec obliged, and Wright has responded with 22 assists and 14 goals.

"My thing is the assists," Wright said. "I like assisting people because we all create the goals together. I think assisting is just as big as goal scoring."

Against Countryside, Mitchell (20-3-2) will have to take advantage of whatever opportunities it gets. The Mustangs have reached the region finals before, losing to George Jenkins in overtime in 2005.

"If everyone does their job or their primary task well," Kukec said, "I know we can succeed."

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

Fast facts

Class 6A: Countryside (12-6-1) at Mitchell (20-3-2)

Last week: Countryside beat Sarasota 3-0; Mitchell beat Riverview 5-1

Friday: Winner faces winner of Edgewater (23-3-2) and Melbourne (21-2-1) in the region final.

[Last modified January 29, 2008, 00:34:59]