By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
TAMPA — Clearwater Central Catholic and Berkeley Prep played to near collapse, through 100 minutes of soccer, 80 minutes of regulation extending into 20 minutes of overtime on a chilly night.
Still no one was able to put the winning goal into the net in this Class 3A region semifinal game until the second round of penalty kicks.
Jarod Brazel curled a right-footed kick inside the right post to give Berkeley Prep a 4-3 win on penalty kicks, then sprinted toward the sideline as teammates and fans erupted in celebration. The Buccaneers (18-3-2) beat their fiercest rival for the third time this season and moved on to Friday's region finals.
"I was nervous, but it wasn't too bad," Brazel said. "I've taken penalty kicks in state finals before. I wanted to take that sixth kick, and I told everyone on our team I was going to the right. Their keeper guessed right but I had enough on it to go through."
Both teams scored twice in regulation. The Marauders' Tommy Going had one in the first half and teammate Ryan Seidl scored the other in the second half.
Tyler Sacone scored both of Berkeley Prep's goals in regulation, the last coming with 10 minutes left to force overtime. No one scored in two sudden death periods.
Both teams made three kicks in the first round of penalty kicks. The Marauders (19-7) advanced after goalkeeper Ray Fox made a diving deflection to stop the Buccaneers' fifth and final attempt.
After Clearwater Central Catholic missed its first penalty kick in the second round, Brazel nailed his to end the game.