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Highlands Today

Bulldogs down Red Devils

Ryan Lavner, Highlands Today

Avon Park's Jesus Hernandez (12) tries to work his way around a Frostproof forward during the Red Devils' 8-0 loss on Tuesday night at Joe Franza Stadium.

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By RYAN LAVNER

Highlands Today

Published: November 26, 2009

AVON PARK - Nothing went the Avon Park Red Devils' way Tuesday night - even their uniforms needed amending.

Forced to wear its away black jerseys because both teams arrived in indistinguishable red uniforms, the Avon Park boys soccer team was out of sorts from the outset. It didn't get much more organized on the field, either, as the Red Devils lost to Frostproof, 8-0, in a mercy-rule-shortened match at Joe Franza Stadium.

"It's tough because you do see the improvement and when you look at the scoreboard, you want to be sincere with what you say," first-year Avon Park coach Timothy Saenz said. "But we really are getting better, and it showed."

The Red Devils (0-4) were missing six players because of holiday conflicts. They were without their goalkeeper, Danny Vazquez, who suffered a season-ending arm injury a few days after their most recent game, on Oct. 16 against Tenoroc. And one of their key offensive contributors, Robert Bieber, was removed from the match midway through the second half after receiving consecutive yellow cards for delayed restart and dissent.

As a result, the short-handed Red Devils were outshot 21-2 and allowed five first-half goals to doom any chance of a comeback.

"We asked them to be more physical and they were," Saenz said. "They fought, they ran after the ball, they jumped up and headed the ball. They really tried to win this game, and we just need to make some improvements to our defensive line and goalkeeping situation. He was rusty."

Marcos Garcia made his first start this season between the posts - and it was a particularly tough assignment against powerhouse Frostproof.

The Bulldogs (5-2) scored two goals in the first 7 minutes, as the Avon Park defenders had a difficult time clearing the ball out of their zone. Frostproof also perfectly timed their runs, which left the middle of the field vulnerable to fast-break situations.

"We weren't there," Saenz said, "and they were getting free shots on goal."

In the third minute, midfielder Adrian Eliciero slipped a shot past Garcia to give the Bulldogs a quick 1-0 lead. Less than five minutes later, Fernando Ojeda rifled a shot from the top of the penalty box for another Frostproof goal.

"They were waiting and timing their runs into the center," Saenz said. "They were beating us to the ball, and that type of situation hurt us."

Eliciero streaked down the sideline and screamed another shot past Garcia in the 22nd minute, giving Frostproof a 3-0 lead. And when Avon Park again had trouble with its passes, the Bulldogs struck twice - on a redirected goal in front of the net, and after another beautiful assist from Eliciero.

Avon Park had no answer defensively for Frostproof's precise crossing passes, which pierced the heart of the Red Devils' defense and, more often than not, wound up in the back of the net.

Frostproof scored six minutes into the second half, on Eliciero's remarkable unassisted goal, in which he sped upfield, put on the breaks, cut back inside and curved a shot that flew past the outstretched arms of Garcia.

After netting a goal from near midfield, the Bulldogs then initiated the mercy rule on Tomas Aguilar's free kick, which bounced off Garcia's hands as he went crashing into the left post.

"We haven't developed our defense to the point where it's mature," Saenz said. "It's our job to get the boys to know who they have to cover and what they have to seal off."

Avon Park will look to capture its first win of the season Monday against McKeel Academy, a match Saenz said is "very winnable."

"We're not in any position to take a game for granted," he said, "and we've got to put out a supreme effort to win."

Ryan Lavner can be reached at 863-386-5841 or rlavner@highlandstoday.com

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