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Highlands Today

Blue Streak Soccer Teams Sweep Tornadoes

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebring's Cody Watson 5 heads up field as Booker's Jesus Garcia 16 moves in during the second half of Tuesday night's district soccer match at Firemen's Field.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

SEBRING - A match with Sarasota Booker was just what the Sebring boys soccer team needed.

After dropping a tough match to Okeechobee last week, the Blue Streaks used a suffocating defense and a second-half goal from sophomore forward Elisha Klatt to edge the Tornadoes 1-0 at a frigid Firemen's Field on Tuesday night.

"We needed a win after losing to Okeechobee last week," said Klatt. "Booker was a pretty good team and this is a good district win for us."

The hard-fought Class 4A victory improved Sebring to 4-2-1 overall and 3-2 in District 10 play.

"We played a lot better as a team tonight and passed the ball real well," said first-year Blue Streak coach Tim Boulay. "We had a couple of practices over the Thanksgiving break and I think that helped get us back in the right mind set.

"This district win keeps us in the hunt and we need to come out with the same intensity in Thursday's match at DeSoto."

The loss dropped Booker to 1-5 in district action.

"The guys played hard and really wanted to beat Sebring," said first-year Tornadoes coach Taylor Vick-Anderson. "We've got 12 seniors on the squad but they aren't that experienced.

"We've lost a lot of close games, but we just have to keep playing hard to turn things around."

Sebring dominated the first-half with 12 shots on goal, while Booker attempted just three, but the Blue Streaks failed to take advantage of several scoring opportunities and headed to intermission without a goal.

Sebring continued to press the action and finally broke through late in the second half against the small but scrappy Booker squad.

Klatt was able to corral a loose ball in front of the Tornadoes goal and managed to boot it into the back of the net with 8:17 remaining in the match.

"I saw the ball get past Washly Jean and I just ran toward it and gave it a quick kick," said Klatt. "The next thing I knew the ball was in the back of the net.

"I guess I got lucky, but I'll take it."

The Blue Streak defense made sure the goal would stand up with solid play the remainder of the match.

"We played well and looked much stronger in the second half," Boulay said. "Our defense was aggressive and did a good job of clearing the ball and our offense moved the ball well."

GIRLS SOCCER: Sebring 6, Booker 0

The Sebring girls soccer team blasted Booker by a score of 6-0 on Tuesday night at Firemen's Field.

The Blue Streaks, who improved to 2-4 on the season, got two first-half goals from junior forward Karrie Lester and three second-half goals from sophomore Amanda Grimaldo and a score from senior Lisa Pryzchocki to rout the Tornadoes.

Sebring is back in action with an away match at DeSoto at 6 tonight.

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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