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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.