Springstead contender for 2 titles

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- Play begins in the Class 2A, District 8 boys and girls soccer tournaments on Monday. Hernando County teams have an excellent shot at advancing to regionals -- if seeding translates into performance.

The district winner and runner-up move on to the Region 2 Tournament, which starts Feb.8. The district boys tourney will be played at Central; the girls at Pasco.

Springstead appears to be the county's standard-bearer, with its girls team a top seed and its boys No.2 behind Hudson.

Springstead's girls will meet the Central-Mitchell winner Wednesday after a first-round bye. Eagles coach John Bifulco, who said he loves a bye because it reduces the chance of incurring injury, knows whom he will be rooting for Monday.

"I've always said I'd rather play the top team in the state than play my neighbor," Bifulco said. "If I had the choice, I'd take Mitchell."

Springstead's boys face seventh-seeded Mitchell on Monday. Third-seeded Central should be a dangerous variable, with 20-goal scorer Dave Bernard and a slick center-midfielder combination in Sean O'Sullivan and Carlos Rodriguez. The Bears meet No.6 Hernando on Monday.

Class 2A Dist. 8Tournament

SCHEDULE: All games at Central. Monday -- No.1 Hudson, bye; No. 2 Springstead vs. No. 7 Mitchell, 6 p.m.; No. 3 Central vs. No. 6 Hernando, 8 p.m. Tuesday -- No.4 Zephyrhills vs. No.5 Pasco, 6 p.m. Wednesday -- (Central would play at 8 p.m. if alive. Hudson will play at 8 if Central has been eliminated.) Central-Hernando winner vs. Springstead-Mitchell winner, Hudson vs. Pasco/Zephyrhills winner. Friday -- Final, 7 p.m.

TEAM WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE: Springstead. The Eagles were embarrassed 4-0 at home by Hudson, the district's leader, in a late-season game. Springstead, which played the Cobras to a 1-1 tie earlier in the year, was out-muscled and too preoccupied with officials' non-calls to recover.

POTENTIAL SLEEPER: Central. The Bears have some of the district's best individual talent, but sometimes don't seem to realize it. Play-making center midfielder Sean O'Sullivan could make Central a major player.

PLAYER WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION: Sean O'Sullivan, Central. Nobody in the district passes as well or is as dangerous on the corners.

DID YOU KNOW? Springstead made its first trip to the regional tournament in school history last season by defeating Hudson.

Girls

SCHEDULE: At games at Pasco. Monday -- No. 2 Zephyrhills vs. No. 7 Hernando, No. 3 Pasco vs. No. 6 Hudson. Tuesday -- No. 4 Central vs. No. 5 Mitchell, 8 p.m.. Wednesday -- No. 1 Springstead vs. Central-Mitchell winner, Zephyrhills-Hernando winner vs. Pasco-Hudson winner. Friday -- Finals, 7 p.m.

TEAM WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE: Springstead. The Eagles seemingly validated themselves as a legitimate, deep playoff threat by toppling then-unbeaten Citrus 3-2 on Jan.17. In its next game, though, Springstead allowed itself to be tied, 2-2, by Central. The Eagles need to prove they can be consistent.

POTENTIAL SLEEPER: Pasco. Goaltender Shelly Grayling can be dominating at times, and anyone who knows their soccer/hockey axioms knows that means more than almost anything in the post-season.

PLAYER WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION: Chrissi Tapia, Springstead. One of the district's better passers has found her scoring touch with 12 goals to complement her 13 assists.

DID YOU KNOW? Springstead forward Dawn Reitz has five goals and an assist in six games since being promoted from the junior varsity.

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