By Jonathan Stone
Photography by Betty Kolar
Going into Thanksgiving both Nature Coast Tech and Weeki Wachee’s boys programs had not lost a game and all eyes were on the eagerly awaited matchup after the break.
It was to be Weeki who maintained their form moving into the game as they started the week on the back of a 2-2 tie on the road at South Sumter before getting back to winning at home against Citrus (3-0). Nature Coast meanwhile hit a bump in the road as Cypress Creek came and conquered the Shark Tank courtesy of a 2-1 victory.
Winning ways returned for them courtesy of a 8-0 victory across the county at Central. But it was Friday night’s matchup against the Hornets that had the players excited before kick off.
Seth Tarbox entered the game having already amassed 13 goals on the season and while he bolstered his tally with another on Friday night, the Sharks held firm. Meanwhile creating 10 shots on goal of their own, the Sharks came away 2-1 victors with Zacary Arcidiacono and Jaxston Soto bulging the net at the other end. Zacary Arcidiacono netting for the first time this season and sending the Hornets to their first defeat could be pivotal come play off time.
The Leopards finally got off the mark with back to back victories. A 8-0 drubbing of Hernando Christian Academy, Jacob Kelly (3), Nathan D’Alfonsono and Jacob Powell all finding the net. They were backed up by former HCA student Zayne Loftin netting a hat trick against his former team.
A 4-1 victory against Crystal River on Wednesday night saw another win before Lecanto ended their run courtesy of a 2-1 defeat.
It was a good week over at the Springstead Eagles camp as they were on the road north at both Lecanto and Central. Back to back victories by score lines of 3-0 and 7-0 helped them move to 3-2-3 on the season.
Weeki Wachee girls coach Amy Mainella and her team started the week on a high as they battled past Pasco side Fivay. Mainella, in her first season with the Hornets, said after the game “We did well building from the back, a good defense performance.” Her defense stood proud conceding just one goal behind a penalty kick which allowed Marleen Ohr the opportunity to hit a brace. Ohr, who had missed a couple of chances earlier in the game popped up with just 12 minutes to go, to net the winner and take Mainella’s side to their 2nd win of the season. The week went downhill from their however as they came back from away trips to Citrus (1-0) and Nature Coast (8-0) winless.
The Sharks however maintain their amazing start to the season as they move to 10-0 behind three 8-0 victories. Crystal River, Zephyrhills and Weeki Wachee couldn’t even get on the score sheet as coach Brandon Chitwood and his team took all 3 games using the FHSAA ‘mercy rule’ to end things early. Kennedy Weismann scoring 15 – yes fifteen – goals on the week.
Springstead Eagle’s girls program ended the week with a morale boosting 3-0 win over fellow county side Central. Their 2nd win of the season helped alleviate some of the pressure after losses to Land O’ Lakes (5-0) and Lecanto (8-0) to start the week.
Across the county at Hernando High School and David Shrader’s Leopards shared a mix bag as they moved to 4-4-1. Starting the week with a 7-1 loss his Leopards team peaked in midweek, despite numerous season ending injuries, to beat Crystal River 8-2 before losing 6-2 at Lecanto on Friday night.
