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East Lake Pulls Out Thriller Over Rival

East Lake 4, Palm Harbor 3 (PK 4-2)

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: January 26, 2008

DUNEDIN - DUNEDIN - As arguably the fiercest rivalry in Pinellas County boy's soccer, it seemed only fitting for the Class 5A, District 9 championship game between Palm Harbor University and East Lake to boil down to penalty kicks Friday night.

It was the third straight time the two programs met to decide district primacy and this latest edition certainly did not disappoint.

Battling to a high-energy 3-3 tie after regulation and two overtime periods were not enough, East Lake's Drew Petzoldt boomed home the game winning penalty kick on the Eagles' final attempt. The goal sent the team – and its raucous student section, the Blue Crue – into a frenzy.

"I've been waiting for this for four years," a euphoric Petzoldt said mid-celebration. "There's nothing like PK's, nothing like it. I can't even explain how happy I am."

The fact that East Lake even forced extra action is a testament to the mental toughness they displayed while coming back from a 3-1 halftime deficit.

"For the boys to come back from 3-1, that says a lot about their character," East Lake head coach Sergei Stopek said.

After grabbing a 1-0 lead less than 15 minutes into the game off Josh Gonzalez's first of three goals, Stopek and his Eagles watched the speedy Palm Harbor frontline quickly gain control.

The Hurricanes answered with three straight goals in less than 20 minutes from Ben Sweat, Ishmail Kamara and Andrew Smith.

East Lake never gave in and, following a fiery halftime pep talk from Stopek, the Eagles responded immediately with Gonzalez's second goal 6:31 into the second.

While repealing waves of intense Palm Harbor attacks, East Lake stepped up again 12 minutes later when Gonzalez finished off his hat trick in the middle of the goal box from 15 yards out.

East Lake has now secured the right to home field advantage throughout their regional playoff bracket, beginning Thursday night. The teams may meet again in the regional semifinals Feb. 5 if both win their first round games.

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