Springstead gets compliment

Ridgewood coach Ed McComiskey has seen the best teams in Hernando and Pasco counties and has reached his verdict.

"Springstead has been the best team we've played all year," he said after a 4-1 loss to Central on Tuesday. "We lost 9-0 to Gulf in our first game of the year, and Springstead is still better than Gulf."

The Eagles, who beat Ridgewood (5-5-3) earlier this season, entered a Friday date with Leesburg at 10-0-1. Springstead opened the season with a 3-0 win at Leesburg. Gulf is 7-3-1.

SEPARATION: Central's sloppy but eventually decisive win over the Rams has cleared up the playoff picture in Class 3A, District 7.

Springstead, Central (9-2-1) and Ridgewood appeared to be the top suitors for the district's two playoffs berths, but the Eagles and Bears have so far proved themselves superior.

That's fine for the regular season, Bears coach John Andruss said, but Central will have to do it again at the district tournament, which will be held in Leesburg Jan. 28-Feb. 1.

"We have to play our game, that's the key," Andruss said. "When it comes to a tournament, it's just one night. Ridgewood is capable of beating us if we don't come to play."

That was clear Tuesday.

Several near-goals would have tied the game in the second half. Despite committing several mistakes, Central scored twice in the final five minutes to secure the win.

"You could kind of see they let down after that third one," Andruss said.

FINALLY: Senior John O'Donnell had a decidedly different reaction to the third goal -- as in a jig like he just scored the golden goal in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.

O'Donnell, a little-used player in his first year on varsity, scored his first varsity goal by finishing a play that didn't seem to interest his teammates.

Standing outside the left side of the penalty box, O'Donnell had a crossing pass bound onto his foot, and he turned and blasted a shot past goaltender Sean Sendra.

O'Donnell's celebration was in stark contrast to Sendra's reaction.

The keeper slipped in mud at the goal mouth as he reacted to the shot, did a split, and had to be helped off the field with a groin injury.

"We had two runners who just stopped on the play," Andruss said. "Then somebody just whiffed on it as it came across."

Andruss was happy to see O'Donnell finish.

"I put him on varsity because he works real hard and he's a great kid," he said. "It was nice to see him get it."

- Staff writer Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1407.

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