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Mustangs Make A Splash, Beat River Ridge

Mitchell 3, River Ridge 2

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST NEWS

The Royal Knights' Kristin Newton, left, leaps in the rain, heading the ball out of River Ridge territory.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: December 15, 2007

TRINITY - TRINITY - Arguably the top two girl's soccer teams in all of Pasco County battled each other – and the elements – in a rematch game Friday night, as Mitchell hosted undefeated River Ridge for an out-of-district showdown.

Playing much of the game in the midst of an evening downpour, the girls put on a second half show that culminated in a 3-2 Mitchell victory.

On Nov. 16, both squads clashed to a 3-3 tie at River Ridge.

Though Friday's game began much like the early weather – a little dry, and uneventful – as the rains rolled in midway through the first half, so did the action.

With the match still scoreless and River Ridge (11-0-1) beginning to mount a steady attack, it looked as though the Royal Knights were about to flex their offensive muscles and take control.

After a solid entry pass towards the goal off the foot of River Ridge forward Mikaela Morolla failed to be cashed in, Mitchell (10-3-1) broke the pressure and made their way downfield.

During the attack, Mitchell forward Morgan Shellenberger went down hard to the turf as she was tangling with a Royal Knight defender. Officials deemed the play worthy of a penalty kick for Mitchell, which immediately drew the ire of the Royal Knight faithful in attendance.

In one of the most difficult tasks in all of sports, River Ridge goalkeeper Brittany Hahn was unable to block the close-range kick from Shellenberger, putting the Mustangs on top 1-0.

Without delay, River Ridge applied pressure after falling behind. Morolla again delivered another crossing pass right in front of the net that threatened to be headed in, but did only that.

Mitchell's 1-0 lead held into halftime and was nearly doubled early in the second half, but Hahn made an athletic diving save to keep the deficit at one.

After weathering the early Mustang assault, River Ridge cranked up their offensive machine once again.

For 15 minutes, Mitchell's defense held up; allowing the Royal Knights to get close, but not close enough.

The relentless River Ridge attack finally paid off just before the halfway point of the final period.

Star forward Deana Rossi found a seam and began pushing deeper into Mitchell territory, drawing the attention of two Mustang defenders. Rossi then sent a shot across the goal box that Mitchell goalkeeper Laura Seletos was unable to intercept. Slipping past the sliding Seletos, the ball rolled right to River Ridge freshman Jenny Karl, who finished the job and tied the game.

Minutes after the Karl goal, Morolla got on the board herself with an improbable 25-plus yard, sailing shot that was placed in perhaps the only vulnerable spot for Seletos in that instance: high and over her head.

The arching attempt bounded lightly into the back of the net and all of a sudden, the Royal Knights were on top, 2-1.

The undefeated record looked to be safe as time rolled off the clock, but the Mustangs refused to give up. They answered with 6:43 left on a Breana Pullara goal that Hahn was able to get in front of, but couldn't fully stop – turning only to watch the ball trickle past the goal line.

With the match knotted now at 2-all and the rain becoming torrential, Mitchell did to River Ridge what had been done do them earlier: scoring back-to-back goals in a matter of minutes.

Season-leading Mustang goal scorer Marisa Russo followed Pullara's score with a shot into the corner of the net with under three minutes left to play for the third and deciding goal.

Though there were no district implications in Friday's match up, the Mustangs do own bragging rights now – at least for the moment.

The Mustangs – who are currently jockeying for position within a tough District 6A-7 field – next take to the pitch Monday night to tangle with Gulf High School.

River Ridge on the other hand has already won the top seed in District 5A-7 competition. They do not play again until next Friday at home against Central. It will be their last district game of the regular season.

Both teams have only one remaining district game, and five total.

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