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Highlands Today

Pirates Slip Past Green Dragons

MARK PINSON/Highlands Today

Lake Placid’s Brenna DeHart (19) and Port Charlotte’s Stephanie Tirpak battle for a throw-in during the first half of Monday night’s match.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: November 21, 2007

Despite scoring two goals within five minutes late in the second half, Lake Placid came up short against Port Charlotte, 4-2, in girls soccer on Monday night at Roger Scarborough Memorial Field.

The Green Dragons, who dropped to 1-2-1 on the season, missed on a golden scoring opportunity in the opening minutes, and trailed by three goals, before their offense was able to solve the Pirates defense.

"Some of our starters were out tonight and we didn't play as well as can in the first half," said Lake Placid's Erica Resendiz. "We picked it up in the second half, but we still need to work on our passing and we need to finish on our scoring chances.

"We'll do better next time."

The Green Dragons controlled the pace of play in the first half.

Lightning-quick forward Yuribia Terrones had an opportunity for the first goal 20 minutes into the match when she maneuvered past a Pirate defender and the keeper, but her shot from 10 yards out sailed wide right.

"We had a good chance to score, but couldn't get the ball in the goal," said Lake Placid assistant coach Carlos Resendiz. "We need to take advantage of our scoring chances."

Port Charlotte took immediate advantage, as forward Rachel Rovegno made a nice run down the right side and crossed the ball to Justine Verse, who left-footed the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

Lake Placid, which finished with 11 shots, just missed the equalizer on a shot from Ali Lopez that sailed over the crossbar from just outside the 18-yard box late in the half.

The Pirates, who improve to 2-4, came out aggressive in the second half and scored on a header by Jaclyn Conrado off a cross from Ciara Isaac for a 2-0 lead in the 45th minute.

The stunned Dragons watched as Port Charlotte's Isaac took a nice cross from Brittany Gander and scored a goal just two minutes later for a commanding 3-0 lead.

Lake Placid showed its resiliency and battled its way back into the non-district match as Vanessa Barragan gained control of a loose ball in front of the Pirates' goal and blasted it past junior keeper Brooke Salvaggio to pull the Dragons within two goals with 8:21 remaining.

Resendiz showed her quickness and footwork with a run through the Port Charlotte defense and finished with a blast into the upper-right corner of the goal to make it 3-2 with 2:55 left to play.

"We missed some chances tonight, but we kept playing hard," Erica Resendiz said.

Pirates midfielder Cierra Carter ended any chance of a comeback by netting a goal during extra time to seal the win.

"We're playing hard, but need to work on our passing and communication," Carlos Resendiz said.
Lake Placid is back in action with an away match at LaBelle on Monday night.

GIRLS SOCCER: Sebring 1, LaBelle 1

LABELLE — Molly Blackman scored a goal and Becca Secory had 16 saves as the Sebring girls soccer team ran to a 1-1 tie with LaBelle on Monday night.

The Streaks thought they'd pulled ahead in the 16th minute, when a corner kick by Katie Adams that sailed into the net was called back because the referee determined it had touched a LaBelle player first.

"It looked like a clean goal," said Sebring coach Steve Ashley. "But they called it back and made us re-kick it from the corner."

The Streaks, now 3-3-2, welcome DeSoto at 7:30 Monday night.

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