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Boys soccer: Wiregrass Ranch 3, Sunlake 2

 
Published Jan. 7, 2015

LAND O'LAKES — After nearly tearing a hole in the net with an earlier go-ahead goal, Chris Faddoul had a chance to do it again. But the Wiregrass Ranch sophomore went the more savvy route, and as a result his Bulls (19-1) became the first team to defeat Sunlake this season.

Faddoul's well-lofted cross set up Brendan Duran's header in the 62nd minute, giving Wiregrass a 3-2 win Tuesday. Faddoul finished with two goals and the assist against a Seahawks team that had allowed three goals all season.

"This was a challenge we needed," Faddoul said.

Wiregrass Ranch's lone defeat came to Sickles, but the Bulls are still safely the top seed for the 4A-8 district tournament, as is Sunlake (19-1) in 3A-8.

Sunlake took the lead eight minutes in when Allen Lewis beat a defender for an unassisted goal, his 20th of the season. But Faddoul evened things up eight minutes later, heading in a Duran corner kick set up by Kyle Vandevelde's good run up field.

"We gave up two gimme headers tonight, something we never do," Sunlake coach Sam Koleduk said.

The next goal was not a gimme. In fact, Koleduk called it "phenomenal" and "one of the best shots I've ever seen" as Faddoul rocketed one from 25 yards out for a 2-1 Bulls lead.

After a good buildup, Duran laid the ball off for Faddoul, who stayed over the ball just enough to keep it from flying over the crossbar. Sunlake goalie Danny Hrenko had no chance at stopping it.

"I heard a thud, and by the time I looked up it was in the net," Faddoul said.

Sunlake responded, however, in the 50th minute when Louis Andrusyszyn came in for a header courtesy of a Connor Spencer corner but the Bulls took back the lead for good.

While not happy, Sunlake accepted its defeat in style.

"It's almost a load of stress off," Koleduk said. "Two years ago our first loss was the end of our season. Clearly we're the top two teams in Pasco County. I think if we played 10 times it would end up 5-5."