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Highlands Today

Late Goal Lifts Fort Meade Over Sebring

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebring's Buck Schroeder (12) and Fort Meade's Victor Gonzalez battle for the ball during Tuesday night's match.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: November 8, 2007

Despite dominating the pace of play and having three times the number of shots on goal, the Sebring boys soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Fort Meade on Tuesday night at Firemen's Field.

"I'm disheartened for the kids," Blue Streak coach Paul Brown said. "We had a good effort from everyone and I was impressed with how we passed the ball and dominated play.

"We played well and did everything we wanted except for scoring more goals."

Sebring, which has a fairly youthful squad with only five seniors, came out strong and took the lead in the opening minutes of the match on a goal by junior midfielder Gilberto Santos.

"Gilberto is very good with the ball and a real playmaker," Brown said.

Sebring, which has excellent team speed, continued to dominate play and continually peppered Miner's goalie Miguel Cebrero with shots.

But Cebrero, who had 15 saves, made several acrobatic stops to keep Fort Meade in the game.
The Miners gained the equalizer when Nick Cerapia's free kick from just outside the 18-yard box slipped through Blue Streak goalie Ryan Cochran's fingers with 9:08 remaining in the first half.

"We should have been up at least three goals at the end of the first half," Brown said. "We had so many opportunities to score, but we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net."

Fort Meade, which had only five shots on goal, scored the game-winner when Eddie Martinez broke free and rifled a shot into the upper-right corner of the net from 15-yards out with 8:38 remaining to play.

Sebring had several attempts go wide in the closing minutes as the Miners hung on for the win.
"I'm pleased with our effort," Brown said. "Everyone got a chance to play and we just need to finish on our chances and we'll be fine."

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