Devils Make Streaks Earn It

AVON PARK - The first time the Sebring and Avon Park boys soccer teams met this season, the Blue Streaks rattled off four goals before anyone on the field broke a sweat.

This time around, however, it was the Red Devils who had their arch-rivals sweating, holding Sebring without a goal for the first half before running out of steam in a 4-0 Blue Streak victory.

"The first time we played them, I didn't hear their coach say a word," said Avon Park coach Jocelyn Simplice, whose team has struggled through a winless season. "But this time, he was on the sideline yelling at his guys - I think we were some kind of threat to them tonight."

Sebring junior Pedro Gori scored two second-half goals to pace the Streaks, who had their chances in the first half but couldn't finish against AP keeper Arnaud Louis. Gori said his team came out "non-chalant."

"We were cool and confident, like this was a walk in the park," said Gori, who scored in the 61st and 72nd minutes. "We realized we needed to wake up and take it serious. This is a game, and we can't be losing just because this team hasn't won any games."

Sebring coach Paul Brown said Avon Park's narrow field may have thrown his team's wing play off, but a lack of intensity on the Blue Streaks' part was the biggest reason behind their slow start.

"We were making poor decisions and running into each other," said Brown, who held out team leaders Daniel Grimaldo, Nicholas Peters and Daniel Klatt for most, if not all of the first half. "There was no communication, and they were lethargic.

"Avon Park played well, I think they just got tired. But they've shown a lot of improvement."

The Streaks got on the board in the 54th minute, when Grimaldo worked his way past the AP defense and kicked a right-footer to the left side of the goal for a 1-0 Sebring lead. Seven minutes later, Gori scored his first goal, beating two defenders and trickling one from the right side to the lower left corner to put the Streaks up 2-0.

"There was some chaotic stuff there," Gori said of his first goal. "I managed to get the ball at my feet and I just tried to put it where the goalie couldn't get to it."

After Gori's second goal - a left-footer he blasted from directly in front of the net - Peters made his presence felt with a hard-charging, unassisted left-footer past the outstretched arms of Louis.

Simplice, whose bench was significantly lighter than Sebring's, said injuries to key players late bogged his team down, though all in all, he was happy with the Devils' effort.

"[Sebring] is an experienced team," Simplice said. "I'm proud of how we did - we played tough."

Sebring traveled to Braden River on Friday night, while Avon Park looked to pick up its first win of the season against Class 3A McKeel. For results of both games, see Sunday's Highlands Today.