Storm soccer champs host Eastside in regional

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Storm soccer champs host Eastside in regional

Sports

Thursday, 04 February 2010 01:55

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
Celebration’s win in Friday’s Class 4A District 6 boys soccer championship game means that it’s time for another annual, well, celebration.
The Storm, after the 3-2 win over Oak Ridge, will host Gainesville Eastside tonight at 7 p.m. The Rams (14-7-3) fell to Ocala Vanguard, 1-0, in the 4A-5 title game last week.
Celebration (15-4) thought it had broken the Pioneers’ spirits with a goal just a second before halftime that pushed its lead to 2-0. But Oak Ridge answered right back with a goal 20 seconds into the second half, then tied the score shortly afterward on a penalty shot.
The Storm regrouped and answered with the game-winning goal with 5:46 left off a corner kick to seal the win and defend their district title.
CHS Coach Mike Meechin and his team had no “the-sky-is-falling” moment when Oak Ridge tied the game.
“We were just due and just kept battling away,” he said. “We didn’t fold, no sense for panic, just kept playing their game, playing with a comfort that the game-winner would come.
“Last week was a mentally draining week. Those tight ones are tough this time of year, but we’ve been energized this week and we’ll be ready (tonight).”
Meechin said he hopes tonight also is a repeat of last year’s regional round, with the exception of maybe the weather. Nearly 1,000 fans braved chilly weather to pack Storm Field as CHS downed Dade City Pasco, 2-0.
“Eastside moved down from 5A and were a district champ last year,” Meechin said. “We’re hoping our speed sets us apart.
“We hope it’s awesome again. It can be another defining moment for the program. We think we can play with whoever we play now.”
With a victory tonight, the Storm will travel to Ocala Vanguard or host Oak Ridge in Tuesday’s regional semifinal.
In the girls regionals Tuesday, Harmony’s historic season came to an end in Eustis, where the Panthers downed the Longhorns (13-4-2), 3-0, in a 4A Region 2 semifinal.
Coach Stephanie Jones said there was honor in this defeat.
“The girls played the best they could, I was proud and I told them that,” she said. “The entire team stepped up. We give props to Eustis, they are an awesome team, but we played with them.”
Eustis led 2-0 at the half, scoring off a free kick from close range, and off a corner kick.
The Longhorns, who had never even won a district tournament game entering this season, lose just three seniors — Alyssa Miceli, Shadya Maldonado and Lianna Zakaib — and will return the bulk of their defense and scoring punch. Seven underclassmen started on Tuesday.
“The bar is raised for the future, as are our standards for the future,” Jones said. “We now have different goals for what we’d like to accomplish.”