5A region soccer: Seminole 3, Gaither 0

John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 4, 2011

SEMINOLE — Sierra Lelii had three Gaither players standing around her Friday, but Gina Hayduke knew if she got the ball in her teammate's direction, magic might happen.

So she sent the ball through, and sure enough, Lelii got to it first, dribbled down the left side, and just as one of the Gaither defenders caught up, magic happened.

Lelii struck the ball with her left foot, bending an impossible-to-stop shot to the far post to put Seminole on the board.

And into the state semifinals again.

Seminole (22-2-2) scored two more times to beat the Cowboys 3-0 in the region championship.

Lelii's goal, her 19th of the year, in the 22nd minute made it 1-0. She sprinted past the Gaither defenders to get the ball and looked to be headed in for a one-on-one opportunity, but was stuck wide as the Cowboys recovered and launched her shot from 20 yards.

Hayduke and Lelii were trouble all night, keeping pressure on the Cowboys.

"I think those were the best forwards we had to deal with this year," Gaither coach Trevor Scott said. "They had a lot of speed."

In the 68th minute, Hayduke hit a set piece to the near post and Gaither keeper Amanda High appeared to stop it, but the ball got free and Melanie Benner centered it quickly to Tara Belvin for a 2-0 lead.

"The first goal was the best goal," Scott said. "It was the second goal, I thought, that got us."

Hayduke added a penalty kick with nine minutes left, her 35th goal.

Gaither (12-6-2) was able to create some danger by playing a number of long balls into the box, but there never seemed to by anyone at the end of them ready to shoot.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/preps/5a-region-soccer-seminole-3-gaither-0/1149795

UK security and terrorism Women Road trips Bank of England Rob Brydon US foreign policy