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Highlands Today

Pirates Oust Red Devils

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Ralph Felix streaks to the ball during the Class 4A-District 10 tournament on Tuesday.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 29, 2009

PALMETTO - The season came to an abrupt end for the Avon Park boys soccer team on Tuesday, and head coach Craig Morris couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.

"I'm disappointed in the team - we could've played much better," said Morris. "They didn't play together and it was tough to watch."

The No. 3 seed Braden River looked like a polished piece of machinery in the way they systematically dissected the Avon Park defense by scoring the first goal in the opening minute. Then, the barrage continued for an 8-0 mercy rule victory over the Red Devils in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A-District 10 tournament at Harlee Stadium.

The Pirates peppered Avon Park with shot after shot and were up 5-0 at the halfway point of the first half.

"We've been playing really well lately and you can tell the cohesion we have out on the field," said Braden River head coach Brandon Chandler. "This group has a lot of upperclassman and they're really comfortable playing together and it has showed in coming into the tournament."
Braden River (14-5) was scheduled to face the winner of the No. 2 seed DeSoto Bulldogs, who defeated Hardee 7-0, in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Avon Park finished the season with a 2-10-2 record, but Morris believes he has some pieces in place that he can build on for the future.

"We made a lot of improvement from the first game of the season," said Morris. "We just need to work on our attitude and be more aggressive in our attack. I think working on basic teamwork will be our biggest asset for next year

"This is a start."
Avon Park senior Paul Calero wished he could've ended his Devils career on a higher note, but understood the journey this team had to take this season.

"At the beginning, we didn't know each other and we all had different playing styles," Calero said. "We had a language barrier to overcome with some of the kids, but I think we really were on the right track toward the end of the season.

"I was just hoping that I would end my final year with a bigger bang."
Calero believes that the Devils didn't get a good start to the game against the Pirates.

"We let that first goal get to us and we never rebounded," Calero said. "We started out really slow and Braden River took advantage of that."
Avon Park entered the tournament without two of its better players, as Lushane Denton went down with a shoulder injury and John Tracey was out with an illness.
Braden River scored quickly with a goal by Brandon Lam one minute into the game and moments later Mitchell Margolis slipped past the Devils defense and hit a crossing shot into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Margolis would go on to complete the hat trick - his second of his career - and give him 16 goals for the season.

Andy Quinjano ended the game three minutes into the second half with a penalty kick after being tripped in the goalie box by AP.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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