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Soccer: Mitchell girls top Wiregrass Ranch to retain perfect record

 
Published Jan. 5, 2016

TRINITY — Mitchell's first game without its rock-solid sophomore Kendra Hoffman, who recently suffered a devastating knee injury, was for seeing who might help fill her role.

It could take more than one player to do so — and good thing for Mitchell, the undefeated Mustangs have plenty of talent to help sort it out. Sophomore defender Gianna D'Amico, stepping into Hoffman's free-kick duties, scored two goals as Mitchell (17-0) defeated visiting Wiregrass Ranch 4-1 Monday night.

Both of D'Amico's scores were on long free kicks, making it 2-0 less than 20 minutes in. Sydney Griner, one of five honored on senior night, made it 3-0 shortly after with her eighth and the Mustangs held off a game Bulls effort.

"I take free kicks for my club team so I'm used to it. Just tried to put it on frame," said D'Amico, who plays club for West Florida Flames. She'd only scored once for the Mustangs this season.

Hoffman was hurt in a pre-Christmas practice for Tampa Bay United. She tore her right ACL and had to have her lateral meniscus removed. Hoffman, on the sidelines in a wheelchair Monday, played defensive midfield and central defense for the Mustangs.

After it was 3-0, Mitchell coach Karl Kucec moved 21-goal scorer Sabrina Wagner to defense.

Wiregrass Ranch (13-5-1), whose coach Eddie Costa was in also a wheelchair after foot surgery, showed plenty of fight. Vanessa Jordan took a pass from Chloe Lipovetsky in the 25th minute to make it 3-1.

Defenders Sydney Chase and Camille King made numerous hustle plays to keep Mitchell out of scoring range, helping a Bulls team down to its fourth goalkeeper. Starter Maya Foley has been out more than a month with a concussion, Jannae Davis was hurt Monday, Amanda Cypriano finished the first half in goal and 5-foot-4 sophomore Emily Leonard ended up playing the second half.

"She told me she played it once when she was a little girl. Maybe she meant when she was 8 or something," Costa said. "The cards are not falling the right way for us there."

Leonard played well but could not combat the speed of Mitchell freshman Aja Graham, who made it 4-1 in the 68th minute. Before that Mitchell freshman Pilar Eguino made a top-notch save on Saoirse Brown to keep it a two-goal margin.

The second half became increasingly physical, with Chase and Lipovetsky both calling it a "rugby" match.

Costa hopes to have Foley back in time for district tournaments, which begin next week. Mitchell is the top seed in Class 4A, District 8 and Wiregrass is No. 3 in what appears to be a wide-open 5A-7. Palm Harbor University is the top seed but recently lost to Steinbrenner, the Warriors' only district victory.