- November 25, 2024
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With a roster decimated by injuries, the Flagler Palm Coast girls soccer team knew the task at hand Wednesday night against district foe Spruce Creek: Win or tie, and they clinch the No. 1 seed in January’s District 2-5A tournament.
What they didn’t know was that they would have no subs for the entire second half.
Forward Christen Barney scored on a scrappy goal less than 10 minutes into the first half to give FPC an early 1-0 lead. The goal marked Barney’s 21st goal of the season.
But Spruce Creek was able to get the equalizing goal with 25 minutes left in the first half.
The ball wouldn’t find the net the rest of the game.
Coach Pete Hald’s team came into the game down four starters. Because of the injuries, a JV player has been called up and several girls are playing out of position.
Then, with about 10 minutes to go in the first half, Colleen Derrig went down with a hamstring injury.
From there, it was a battle.
“That’s what the (halftime) talk was about,” Hald said after the game. “It’s a challenge, and everyone just needed to dig down deep and meet it.”
Forced to play 40 minutes with 11 players, FPC tried to get the ball up top to forwards Barney and Sara DiLoreto, but they also had to play scrappy defense. After the game, Hald pointed out the play of keeper Maeve Dineen and midfielder Josie Davis, who has moved to center mid because of the injuries.
“Josie has been playing unbelievably,” he said.
Barney had another great scoring chance when she was in one-on-one with the keeper. After getting past the final defender, the shot dribbled wide of the post.
The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
In the second half, most of FPC’s scoring chances came on long balls to the corner, but nothing was doing. Spruce Creek appeared content with taking long-distance shots from about 30 yards away. Dineen was equal to the shots.
With the tie, FPC (11-5-3, 4-0-2 District 2-5A) secured the top seed in next month’s district tournament.
As the No. 1 seed, FPC will play DeLand in the first round. If they win, they’ll play the winner of the other semifinal between University and Spruce Creek. As the top seed, the Lady Bulldogs will have home field advantage throughout the tournament.
“We weren’t playing for a tie, but under the circumstances, having four players out of the lineup and another one goes down — these girls can’t play 80 minutes like this,” Hald said.
With the district tournament looming, Hald hopes to get injured players Brittany Pacifico, Cara Warren, Leah Leach and Amanda Raleigh back after the break.
FPC will play Matanzas on Jan. 4, and then three more games before districts.
“We could have used a break (tonight), but we didn’t get it,” he said. “But I think it’s going to make us better.”
