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Highlands Today

Penalty Kicks Save Streaks From First-Round Upset

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring’s Destiny Wise (3) is crowded by Hardee defenders in the second half of Monday’s Class 4A-District 10 tournament game in Palmetto.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 16, 2008

PALMETTO — Rust doesn't take long to settle in, and when you're an athlete, a three-plus week layoff from competition can be an ingredient for disaster.

The No. 3-seeded Sebring girls soccer team watched in awe as the No. 6-seeded Hardee Wildcats scored first and played way above their seeding before a pair of Blue Streak penalty kicks got them back on track for a 4-1 win in the opening round of the Class 4A-District 10 tournament at Harllee Stadium on Monday.

"I think we underestimated them, and they capitalized on that," said Blue Streak freshman Amanda Grimaldo. "We weren't really focused as a team, but after they scored, we stepped up our play and were able to get the win."

With the win, the Streaks were scheduled to face No. 2 seed Braden River on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time, but full coverage will appear in Thursday's Highlands Today.

The 'Cats seemingly had free reign of the field, easily splitting the Blue Streak defense and passing the ball well to keep the it away from Sebring's offensive threats.

Hardee's goal came after Sebring goalie Rebecca Secory — who had forgotten her shoes and was trying to play in sneakers — slipped on the turf, which led to an easy goal by junior Marcela Ramirez for a 1-0 lead.

That style of play worked until the halfway point in the first half, when a Hardee handball set up Rachel Ashley with a penalty kick opportunity, one she converted to even the match.

Secory made a beautiful save on a Hardee corner kick midway through the first half, but wasn't seriously tested for the rest of the game, as the Streaks carried 23-7 shots-on-goal advantage.

Grimaldo gave Sebring the lead at the 26-minute mark with a rebound shot that went through the outstretched hands of Hardee's goalie Kristina Garcia for 2-1 lead.

Moments later, Sebring's Sadie Adams scored on a penalty kick after another handball violation by the 'Cats for a 3-1 lead going into the second half.

The shock of only being up two goals and the 'Cats continued pressure gave the Blue Streaks a moment of pause during intermission.

"[Hardee] has improved so much since the last time we played them," Grimaldo said. "As a team, we got away from our strengths early on and stopped communicating. Communication for us is key to our success."

The second half was dominated by physical play and a swarming defense along with DeSoto's passing attack, which set up numerous scoring opportunities but no finishes.

Sebring kept trying to build on its lead, peppering Garcia with shots from all angles, but she reacted well and kept the Blue Streaks at bay until the final minutes, when Grimaldo scored her second goal for the final margin of victory.

"I give all the congratulations to [Garcia]," SHS head coach Steve Ashley said. "She did a great job and kept them in the game with her play in the net."

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