Girls Soccer: Early goal, defense advances PHU

Another playoff game for the Palm Harbor University girls soccer team and another victory.

Thursday night's 1-0 Class 6A region quarterfinal win over visiting Bloomingdale marked PHU's 11th straight in postseason play and sets the Hurricanes up for a second-round match at District 6A-8 champion Wharton High.

PHU (18-2) wasted little time getting on the board Thursday, scoring in the 7th minute when freshman Alyssa Skryd was in perfect position to net a rebound. The opportunity arose when Bloomingdale goalkeeper Melissa Jasczak was unable to corral an initial shot struck by PHU senior captain Meghan Harrington.

While the Hurricanes were the aggressors in the first 40 minutes, outshooting Bloomingdale 7-1, PHU's defense played equally as well by effectively diffusing the Bulls attack. Led by back row and defensive mid players Paige Lombard, Renee Huy, Cory Amend and Quinn Lombard and keepers Rachel Taylor and Morgan Lorenti, the Hurricanes were able to cut off or block a number of Bulls attempts before they got to net.

"It was really our entire midfield dropping in," said junior Paige Lombard. "Everybody was just pinching in and staying compact so it really worked well."

PHU coach John Planamenta said he stressed quick defensive pressure before Thursday's game.

"That was something we talked to the girls about; making sure to put pressure on them quickly at the top of the box. I think they did a good job of that."

Feeling it was do-or-die time, Bloomingdale (11-7-1) came out pressing hard in the second half. One sequence in during the 51st minute nearly allowed the Bulls to tie things up. A free kick from midfield was first sent into the PHU box and the first Bloomingdale touch was stuffed by a defender. Lorenti, who played the second half for PHU, came out of net to slide and poke the ball out of trouble. The ensuing Bulls corner kick cleanly found the head of Rachel Lassitter, but the sophomore's attempt sailed just wide of the upper-left corner.

Less than 10 minutes later, Jasczak came up huge in goal for Bloomingdale and kept the Bulls in contention with back-to-back saves. PHU freshman Katie Im showed off her combination of speed, footwork and power by working through two defenders down the right side and blasting a shot at Jasczak. Another Hurricanes freshman, Alexis Mouton, raced in for the rebound but Jasczak sprawled out to deny the opportunity.

Bloomingdale's Elyse Fontecchio put the Bulls' last quality attempt on goal in the 76th minute from 20 yards out with a booming left foot, but Lorenti was there to make the save.

"We had to make sure we matched things up because they played very well, especially in the second half," Planamenta said, mentioning that PHU dropped into a defensive set with about 11 minutes left. "They put so much pressure on us."

Because of their position in this year's tournament bracket, the Hurricanes will have to travel to Wharton (14-9) who is currently on an 11-game winning streak. The Wildcats beat PHU's District 6A-7 foe St. Pete in penalty kicks Thursday night.

Tuesday's game will be a meeting of postseason opposites. While Wharton is making its first-ever trip to the playoffs, PHU's resume is overflowing with successes. The Hurricanes are defending back-to-back state champs, have won five of those trophies overall and are in their 14th straight state tournament.

This year's Hurricanes are a much younger group than the past two seasons, but Paige Lombard said the feeling is still the same this time of year.

"Regionals are usually when I feel it," she said. "It definitely intensifies now because it's single elimination and if you lose, you're out. One mistake can be so critical. You definitely feel that, but we have a really tight team this year even with all the new people."

"I think this year everybody's just doing their part and we're working so well together. Every game we're all stepping up. We really don't have any holes; it's just a solid group effort."

BOX SCORE:

Bloomingdale - 0 - 0 --- 0
Palm Harbor - 1 - 0 --- 1

SCORING:

Palm Harbor University

Alyssa Skyrd (Fr.) - 1 Goal (7')

SHOTS:

Bloomingdale - 7 shots (3 SOG)
Palm Harbor - 12 shots (8 SOG)

GOAL KEEPING:

Bloomingdale

Melissa Jasczak - 8 saves

Palm Harbor University

Rachel Taylor - 1 save
Morgan Lorenti - 2 saves