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By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 3, 2001
BROOKSVILLE -- Central had Hudson right where it wanted: At home, deadlocked in a 0-0 tie in the 70th minute of the Class 2A, District 8 final, with the first district title in school history just a goal away.
But that's when the Cobras also realized they were right where the Bears wanted them.
So Hudson mounted a furious attack in the final minutes of the match and persevered in a 1-0 district title-winning victory on a damp, frigid Friday night.
Central had fallen by a combined 6-1 in two previous meetings with Hudson, but Springstead's forfeiture of Thursday's semifinal put the Bears in prime position to topple the Cobras.
For the first 60 minutes, at least, Central (13-5-3) made the most of its chance against Hudson (20-6-1.)
The Bears outshot the Cobras 9-5 and matched their foe's physical intensity, pressing into enemy territory.
But suddenly Hudson, realizing its dire situation, started pressing back, and came up with the deciding play of the game.
The Cobras collapsed over the Bears' net, as Hudson's Billy Boyko passed to Morten Frette, who knocked a slow roller down right-center and just past the outstretched arms of Central goalkeeper Matt Berger with 8:18 left.
Then to preserve that lead, the Cobras found that the best defense was offense, as they continued pressing the Bears. Robert Pollock could have made it 2-0 when he took the ball into the box and caught the goalie out of net, but his shot hit the side of the net.
Hudson, which won its second district title in three years, will host 2A-7 runner-up Citrus in Thursday's Class 2A regional quarterfinals. Central will travel to Crystal River.
"I think there was some motivation from our seniors," said Cobras coach Ron Ladimir, who barely escaped a Gatorade shower. "They really stepped it up."