Early Goal Helps Frostproof Edge LP In District Soccer

LAKE PLACID - For a senior-laden team like Lake Placid, moral victories don't mean much.

Despite controlling the pace of play in the second half and out-playing a talented Frostproof club, the Green Dragons boys soccer team took no solace from a 1-0 loss to the Bulldogs at Roger Scarborough Memorial Field on Friday night.

"We still have a lot of confidence, but we have to work on our finishes," senior Hermello Villeda said. "It's frustrating, but we have to keep communicating and playing hard because there is a lot of soccer left."

The Class 3A-District 10 win improved Frostproof to 5-1-1, 2-1.

"Our defense is our trademark and we did just enough on offense to win," said veteran Bulldog coach Gurney Masters. "We got the lead, but we didn't change our strategy and kept trying to attack.
"We played solid defense and senior Martin Montenegro was excellent in goal."

Lake Placid, which had 13 shots on goal, dropped to 1-7, 0-4.

"Our play the last couple of games has been excellent," said Green Dragon coach Josh Virkler. "Our buildup at midfield is as good as any team in the area, we just haven't found our scoring touch. We're getting quality looks, we're just not putting them away.

"If we could just score a couple of goals, I think it would open the flood gates for us."

Frostproof scored the only goal when Inigo Hernandez gained control of a through ball and uncorked a laser shot from 25 yards out that sailed just over the fingertips of Green Dragon keeper Omar Villeda and into the upper left-corner in the 32nd minute.

"We didn't play that well tonight, but we won and that's all that matters," Hernandez said.

Lake Placid kept attacking the Bulldog defense with pinpoint passing and had several scoring chances.
But either the ball sailed wide or Montenegro was up to the task with several acrobatic saves.

The Green Dragons turned up the heat in the closing minutes of the match, but the Frostproof defense was able to deny the tying goal as time ran out.

"We had good energy and played well against a good Frostproof team," Virkler said. "Despite the losses, we've been training well and giving great effort.

"If we're going to be a good team, moral victories aren't quite enough. We need to win one of these kind of games to give us a spark."

Lake Placid is back in action with an away match against Sebring on Monday night at Firemen's Field.