Boys soccer: Chargers beat St. Pete Catholic on penalty kicks
Source/Author: Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
February 05, 2016
As Drew Z prepared to take Shorecrest's fifth, and potential winning, penalty kick against St. Petersburg Catholic, he knew he had to do something different. Drew already made a penalty kick in regulation, which was the Chargers' only goal.
Original story: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/preps/boys-soccer-shorecrest-beats-st-petersburg-catholic-on-penalty-kicks/2263827
Read about the Regional Quarterfinals in the "Times" here.
He figured doing the same thing in overtime wasn't going to work.
"When I walked up to the first one I looked to the right and I already knew I was going to the left," Drew said. "When I did the second one I looked right and went right."
His kick sailed past a diving Vincent Dalessio and into the back of the net, which set off a wild celebration on the left sideline. The Chargers won 5-4 in penalty kicks for an official 2-1 win over the Barons in front of a full house at Shorecrest. They will play on Friday against Naples Community School in the Class A region final. It's the first time Shorecrest (16-3-1) has advanced to a region final.
"We finally made it past this step," Shorecrest coach Milen Gaganelov said. "(St. Petersburg Catholic) is a good team. Probably the best team we will face. That's the toughest team because of the mental and physical part of the game. It's that way when we play each other."
This was the third meeting between the district rivals this season. The Barons won the first game 3-1. Shorecrest won the district final 2-1. This game figured to be close, and it certainly was.
The lone first-half goal came in the 23rd minute. Shorecrest's senior Kobi M was fouled in the box while trying to chase down a through ball from midfield. That earned a penalty kick, which Drew took.
Drew's left-footer lined into the upper left corner for a 1-0 lead. That was Shorecrest's only shot on goal in the first half.
St. Petersburg Catholic (16-6-1) started the second half with more energy and needed only four minutes to tie the score. Chris Coughlin outraced Shorecrest goalkeeper Will T to a ball in the right corner of the 18-yard box. Coughlin crossed the ball through traffic and onto the foot of Rich D. From 10 yards, Rich easily redirected the pass into an open net.
Both teams traded chances, and a few yellow cards, for the rest of regulation and into overtime.
In penalty kicks, Taylor D and Seif E made their kicks for Shorecrest. Dunn made his kick, but Will saved Coughlin's kick to put the Chargers ahead 2-1. Will replaced Jesse F in goal for that round.
"There are some club players who know each other so we wanted Will in there against the guys who know Jesse better," Gaganelov said.
K.J. N and Kobi each made their shots for Shorecrest. The Barons' Luke Travis and Liam Dougherty Howard answered with goals. That left Drew to make the final kick.
"We had plenty of chances but there were shots just going wide," SPC coach Will Summer said. "We just couldn't quite break them down. And it's always tough going into PKs."
Original story: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/preps/boys-soccer-shorecrest-beats-st-petersburg-catholic-on-penalty-kicks/2263827
Read about the Regional Quarterfinals in the "Times" here.
