Frostproof Trips Up Sebring

SEBRING -- Gurney Masters looked out across Firemen's Field and saw plenty of familiar faces -- wearing both red and white jerseys.

"I know them a little bit," said the Frostproof boys soccer coach, whose grandson, Buck Schroeder, is a sophomore for Sebring. "I've probably coached half of Sebring's team at one time or another in the YMCA league.

"But knowing them and beating them are two different things."

They seemed one in the same Friday night, as Frostproof scored twice before half and leaned on their trademark defense to earn a 2-1 victory over Sebring. The senior-laden Bulldogs got goals from Inigo Hernandez and Adrian Elicero and witnessed what Blue Streak coach
Paul Brown called an "awesome" performance in goal from senior Orlando Montenegro, who finished with 10 saves.

"He must have tipped four shots over the bar in the second half," said Brown, whose Sebring team dominated possession in the final 40 minutes and had numerous scoring chances late. "But I guess that's what he's there for."

Sebring junior Pedro Gori said Frostproof's teamwork was something the Streaks can learn from, and that even though they weren't able to come up with the equalizer, there's plenty for Sebring to be encouraged by.

"They really played together," Gori said. "They have fast passing and their defense was really good, and I think we hesitated a bit too much with the ball. But things are going well -- we're all learning and we all know we can be better next time."

The Streaks couldn't have played better for the first 10 minutes of the game: They got six shots on goal off and kept the ball on the Frostproof side of the field for much of the early going. Undeterred, Hernandez finally got some room to roam in the 10th minute and worked his way through traffic for a 20-yard shot from the left side that beat Sebring's keeper and put the Bulldogs up 1-0.
As the half wound down, Frostproof scored again when Elicero made a strong move with his back to the net and blasted a 15-yard shot that dribbled into the lower-right side of the goal.

"That was a killer," said Brown, whose team nearly scored just before half when Nicholas Peters got control of a high ball and put a shot just wide of the Frostproof net. "When we shoot, we're not following up quick enough. We have to be ready for those rebounds."

The Streaks brought the home crowd to its feet with five legitimate scoring opportunities in the second half, netting their lone goal on a penalty kick by junior Austin Brady in the 50th minute.

"Their goal before half pushed us down, but it also helped us re-group," said Sebring junior Joseph Lezama, who had two shots tipped over the crossbar by Montenegro. "Our passing was almost perfect tonight -- we had the right ideas, we just need to learn to finish."

Brown said he was proud of how his team played, and though finding the net has been a point of frustration so far this season, he saw his attack do some positive things against a tough Frostproof defense. He was especially encouraged, he said, by his players' attitudes after the game.

"The boys were disappointed, which is good," Brown said. "Last year, when we lost, it didn't effect them. But now that they know they can play a little bit, they get disappointed, and that's a good thing."
The Streaks travel to Clewiston on Monday.