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Cougars Advance to 6A-7 Championship

Countryside 1, Sickles 1 (PK: 4-1)

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: January 16, 2008

TRINITY - TRINITY - With only three seconds remaining in regulation, a trip to the District 6A-7 championship game and advancement to regional postseason play was put in serious jeopardy for Countryside High Wednesday night.

The Cougars district semifinal playoff game with Sickles High lasted over three hours and a was not decided until two full ten-minute overtime periods were played and penalty kicks awarded to each.

Ahead 1-0 and controlling the game all throughout a blustery evening at host Mitchell High School, a whirlwind of events suddenly transpired to breath new life into the Gryphon's fading season.

Sickles was making their final push in the games waning moments when suddenly, forward Kaely Roth collided with Countryside's Katie Kent. The impact sent Roth hard to the turf, landing directly onto her shoulder.

With the game stopped, paramedics arrived and Roth had to be taken away by ambulance to treat a possibly separated shoulder.

A meager three seconds remained on the official's clock and one of their leading scorers was sidelined. The Gryphon's responded by shocking all in attendance and booting the post-injury free kick past Cougar goalkeeper Cristina Brabson.

The Countryside bench was admittedly stunned.

"I actually didn't watch the goal," a relieved, though not overjoyed, Cougar head coach Rob Saltz said afterwards. "I thought we out played them (in regulation). There was a little crying going on after they scored and I just told them to settle down, we've still got soccer to play."

Unfortunately for Sickles, Roth was not the only casualty to injury Wednesday night.

With 3:35 left in the first ten minutes of overtime, Mary Raimo streaked downfield with a great chance to score, but crashed into keeper Brabson and Cougar defender Beccah Clark.

Injuring her right knee, Raimo also left early and had to be carted off the field.

Battling through the long, extending match and high winds that sent balls off target all night, there were few quality attacks on goal in the extra 20 minutes of play.

Countryside left no question as to who prevailed during the penalty kicks. The Cougars scored on four straight attempts and won the best-of-five format 4-2.

Brabson set the tone early, stonewalling Sickles' Sara Lockler on the events' first attempt. Her teammates responded by rattling off four straight goals. The last came off the foot of senior Chelsea Buck, setting off an excited, though exhausted, celebration.

"We actually had worked on (penalty kicks) all week," Saltz said, when asked about his initial thoughts when that time arose and if he was surprised by his girl's efficiency.

The win guarantees Countryside will move onto regional playoff competition.

They will next play the winner of the Mitchell-Alonso game at 8:00 Friday night for the District 6A-7 crown. That game's victor will also be awarded home field advantage during the playoffs' early rounds.

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