 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Loss spurs 'Canes in rematch
By KEITH NIEBUHR © St. Petersburg Times, published February 6, 2001 INVERNESS -- Citrus is 41-2-5 since the start of the 1999-2000 season. One of its losses was to Daytona Beach Seabreeze in the second round of the 2000 state playoffs. The other was to Springstead two weeks ago. As luck would have it, the Hurricanes meet Springstead again tonight in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. How's that for chance encounters? "This is kind of exciting," Citrus forward Jessica Macdonald said. "We really want to play Springstead because they beat us and shouldn't have. "We had so many opportunities against them, but they beat us to the ball," she said. "We shouldn't have let them (win), and we want to beat them bad." In defeating Citrus 3-2 on Jan. 17, the Eagles (13-4) avenged a humiliating 6-0 early-season loss. In Game 2, the Hurricanes (20-1-3) outshot Springstead 17-8 and controlled the ball most of the game, but they came up empty on several point-blank chances. On the other side of the field, Citrus gave up too many easy shots and the Eagles made the most of their few opportunities. "Defensively, we didn't play well at all," Hurricanes coach Brady Bogart said. "Our overall game was not very good. "The first game we played them was a perfect game. The difference in the second game was Springstead's keeper (Stefanie Hibbert). She was solid." Bogart's greatest concern is Springstead's speed. "If we make one mental or judgmental mistake, their speed can turn into a breakaway and that's what we don't want," Bogart said. "They mark up well, and they make you work. Their overall team speed is better than ours, and they match up well against our offense because of their speed," Bogart said. Citrus is 6-0 since losing to the Eagles and enters tonight fresh off an impressive 4-0 win against Lecanto in the District 7 final. In that game, the 'Canes allowed two shots. The previous night, in a 3-0 victory over Dunnellon, Citrus outshot the Tigers 32-0. "Losing the Springstead game showed the girls you can't just show up and win games," Bogart said. "They were frustrated with the way they played. Quite a few girls didn't play well that night, and you can't do that and win against good teams like Springstead." Springstead at CitrusWHAT: First-round playoff game. WHEN: Tonight, 7:30. UP NEXT: The winner plays Orlando Bishop Moore (24-4-1) or Titusville Astronaut (12-12-3).
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
