Controversial OT goal ends Naples season

from Naples News

NAPLES — Cypress Lake continues to break the hearts of Naples girls soccer players and fans, and this loss might be the most painful one yet.

After the Panthers ended Naples’ season two straight years — on a last-minute goal in 2007 and in a four-goal blowout last season — Cypress Lake did it again Tuesday. The Panthers scored with less than two minutes to play in overtime to win the Class 4A regional semifinal 3-2.

Cypress Lake (21-4) advanced to its fourth straight regional championship match on a controversial goal that had both teams confused as to what really happened.

Eight minutes into overtime, Panthers sophomore Cody Patinella lined up a corner kick to the right of the Naples goal. The ball fluttered through the air and came down in the middle of the penalty box.

Golden Eagles goalkeeper Morgan Berman initially punched the ball high in the air, but as she made a second effort to grab the ball, a swarm of bodies converged on her. Several Panthers came to the front of the net as Berman and some of them fell to the ground.

Amid the fray, the ball found its way into the Eagles’ net for the game-winning goal.

“As I punched it up, five people just tackled me to the ground,” said Berman, a junior in her first year starting. “I had a massive dogpile on top of me pinning me to the ground, so I couldn’t get back up or do anything. I’m so ticked off.”

The Panthers, who have been to back-to-back state finals, play the winner of Tuesday’s Palmetto-Braden River semifinal at home Friday.

First-year Cypress Lake coach Bo McMahon said he didn’t know who scored the goal, but it didn’t matter.

“All I know is the ball hit the net,” McMahon said. “That'’s all I care about.”

The Eagles had momentum on their side after a Ciara Hebel’s second goal of the game with just three minutes left in regulation forced overtime. Naples trailed 2-0 after 18 minutes of action, but also got a goal from Hebel with three minutes to go before halftime.

Hebel’s game-tying goal had it’s own bit of controversy. As the Naples junior chased down a ball headed toward the Cypress Lake goal, Panthers keeper Ashley Helenbrook raced out to scoop it up.

The two and another Cypress Lake defender converged on the ball, and Helenbrook fell to the ground before Hebel nailed her 20th goal of the season. McMahon said his keeper had possession of the ball before it was knocked loose.

“There were tough breaks in the game,” McMahon said. “It goes both ways. The calls are out of our control. The only thing we can control is what we do on the field and to stay strong and win the game.”

The Panthers came into the semifinals winners of 10 straight and averaging more than four goals a game during the streak. Aside from a three-minute stretch in the first half, however, Naples held Cypress Lake’s offense in check.

In the 15th minute of the game, senior Amanda Buxton connected with sophomore Brianne Matarazzo, who scored her team-leading 27th goal of the year. Three minutes later, with 22 minutes to go before halftime, Buxton scored off a pass from Jessica Minor.

Naples won it’s first regional game in 12 years last season. This year, the Eagles made it back to the semifinals for the second straight season and just the sixth time in school history.

Even though his team couldn’t take the next step, Naples coach Frank Frostino liked the heart the Eagles showed against Cypress Lake.

“The girls played incredibly well,” Frostino said. “They were very relentless at the end. They never gave up, and that’s what we’re looking for.”