Basil Spyridakos, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
EAST LAKE — East Lake coach Sergei Stopek wasn't looking for atonement.
"It wasn't about redemption," Stopek said of last season's Class 5A region loss to Seminole. "It was more about staying focused and taking one step at a time."
With the past behind, East Lake (16-4-1) defeated rival Seminole 5-1 on Tuesday to advance to the 5A region final.
Anthony Giordano set the tone in the 37th minute when he blasted a goal off of a deflection from Warhawk goalkeeper Kenneth Matthews.
The Eagles continued their barrage two minutes later when Ryan Wankat scored off of a similar deflection to end the half at 2-0.
"Once we get the first (goal) we just seem to put them in," Giordano said. "We all play hard and when someone scores it feels good."
The scoring continued with a header from Brett Hummel in the 45th minute as well as another from Giordano in the 50th minute.
"We have a brand new attitude," Hummel said. "We came in a lot more humble, not as cocky as we were last year."
During the 55th minute, Seminole's Daniel Welland received a yellow card for shoving an East Lake player after a scrum. Hummel lined up and bent a free kick from 20 yards to the back of the net for the Eagles' final goal.
Tyler Zulewski scored Seminole's (10-11-0) lone goal in the final minute.
"We peaked a little too early last year and this year we're peaking right where we need to be," Stopek said. "This team wants to play in a state final."