Storm soccer victors again

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Storm soccer victors again

Sports

Thursday, 11 February 2010 00:57

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
Celebration is now just 80 minutes away from the state boys soccer tournament.
Thanks to a 2-1 win at Ocala Vanguard in Tuesday’s Class 4A Region 2 semifinals, the Storm will host New Port Richey Mitchell, a 3-2 winner over Land O’Lakes in their semifinal, in the regional final Friday at 7 p.m.
Santiago Echeverri and Christian Ardila scored goals two minutes apart in the second half, after Vanguard (22-2-4) scored 43 seconds into the game to put Celebration (17-4) in a new spot — playing from behind.
“They punched us in the mouth right at the start, but the next 80 minutes, it was ours,” CHS Coach Mike Meechin said. “We stayed patient and kept doing the things we’ve done all season.”
After Bryce Cimabella scored on a direct kick to give the Knights the lead before Celebration could settle in, the Storm stayed with their game plan like it didn’t happen.
“We played our possession game and controlled the ball. It was a real physical contest on both sides,” Meechin said. “Vanguard was very skilled and put pressure on us, but our kids just rose up and played their best.”
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Echeverri, the Storm captain, worked through the Vanguard defense and ripped a shot past Knights’ goalie David Earnest. Two minutes later, after a Vanguard foul, Ardila converted a deft crossing pass for the winning margin.
In the late stages of the game, the Storm defense turned away two scrums in front of the net to seal the win.
Meechin said two full buses of fans accompanied the Storm to Ocala on Tuesday, and with the regional final at home on a Friday, he’s expecting a big crowd in the school’s first-ever regional final.
“On our field, with 1,000 of our fans because it’s not a school night, I like where this is going,” he said. “I’m excited because I don’t know what to expect.”
A win Friday puts Celebration into the 4A state tournament, to be held Wednesday and Thursday at Pepin Stadium at the University of Tampa.
No Osceola County team has ever advanced to a state soccer tournament.