Mustangs blank Hurricanes

BRADENTON — Regardless of what transpired Wednesday night at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium, Lakewood Ranch’s girls soccer team knew the future.

The Mustangs had already sewn up the top seed in for the Class 5A-District 12 tournament, which gets under way in less than two weeks at North Port.

Nonetheless, they made their coach very happy following a 2-0 non-district win over league foe Manatee.

And it wasn’t just because the Mustangs ran their record to 13-2 — Lakewood Ranch has won five straight district titles at Manatee’s expense. So if this year’s prize comes down to the Mustangs and Canes — the tournament’s second seed — Lakewood Ranch will head in having defeated Manatee twice this season.

“If it comes between us and them, I guarantee you it’s going to be the same type of game that you saw (Wednesday) — nothing’s going to be easy,” said Lakewood Ranch coach Guy Virgilio. “Honestly, it’s anybody’s game.”

Such was the case Wednesday, when the two teams played a scoreless first half. Lakewood Ranch outshot Manatee 7-3 during the first 40 minutes, but the Canes defense, led by goalie Tina Papazian (who grabbed four of her nine saves before the break) continually turned the Mustangs away. more