PALM HARBOR — Palm Harbor didn't have the same intensity — as say an East Lake game — but even against Leto the results were almost perfect.
The Hurricanes (20-4-4) posted a 2-0 shutout to advance to the region semifinals at Jesuit next week.
"We know East Lake like the back of our hand," senior defenseman Sam Stein said. "When you play a new team you have to feel them out, but since it's the regional quarterfinals, eventually we had to pick it up no matter what."
Stein and his defensive teammates held Leto (13-10-1) to four shots on goal. Max Gallin saved two of the on-target shots for his 12th shutout of the season.
"Their whole team had really good ballhandlers," Stein said.
The scouting report against the Falcons warned not to let senior midfielder Jorge Chirinos take shots from anywhere on the field, and especially be alert on free kicks. In the first half, Chirinos did not get a shot on goal. In the second half he was high on one shot and stopped by Gallin on another.
Palm Harbor U. also benefitted from taking a lead 26 minutes into the game. Ben Sweat was surrounded by defensemen in front of the net when he battled to take possession and took a quick shot. Seventeen minutes into the second half, a takedown inside the box gave Andrew Smith a penalty shot and the Hurricanes senior booted the ball into the net without a defensive move from the keeper. Sweat's goal was his 10th of the season and Smith's was his seventh of the year.
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