Cardinal Gibbons Soccer News

Cypress Lake falls to Cardinal Gibbons in Class 4A state semifinals

By Annabelle Tometich
atometich@news-press.com

4:03 p.m.: FINAL: Gibbons has tallied 18 shutouts this season, and this is No. 19. Cypress has lost for three straight years in the state semifinals. The score was 4-0.

3:55 p.m.: In the 72nd minute, Cypress Lake's Noelle Eppleman got in on the flipping action, cartwheeling in an inbounds pass and earning the team some style points, if nothing else.

3:47 p.m.: In the 65th minute, Cypress earned its fourth yellow card - this time against Desiree Meyer.

3:43 p.m.: In the 61st minute, Cypress Lake's Kelsey Stein earned her second yellow card and was ejected from the game. The Panthers are playing with sullen faces and a slower pace.

3:39 p.m.: The teams are going into the second-half water break.

3:33 p.m.: In the 54th minute, Cypress junior Sarah Yates had a chance to score after Julie Samson was fouled just outside of the penalty box. Yates ballooned her free kick up and over the net - no goal.

3:28 p.m.: In the 52nd minute, Katie Crittenberger scored for Cardinal Gibbons, bending one in from 25-yards out to put the Chiefs up 4-0. Cypress had a chance to score a few minutes earlier after a Sarah Yates shot, but it was saved by the Gibbons keeper. In the 53rd minute, Kelsey Stein of Cypress earned the team's second yellow card.

3:17 p.m.: The second half is now under way. Cypress will have a lot of work to do to make it to their first-ever state final.

3:05 p.m.: HALFTIME -- Cypress Lake has had just four shots on goal in the first 40 minutes. Cardinal Gibbons has had nine. The Panthers possession style of play has been nonexistent this half. They've struggled to control the ball up front and on defense. Were it not for spectacular saves by Cypress keeper Ashley Helenbrook and defender Desiree Meyer, the Chiefs could easily have a 5-0 lead.

2:58 p.m.: This game is getting away from Cypress Lake. In the 34th minute of play Gibbons Sarah Motta drove in her team's third goal of the game, hammering in a shot from 25-yards out. The Chiefs have taken a 3-0 lead.

2:55 p.m.: In the 32nd minute of play, Schumacher came back in for Gibbons. Cypress had a couple of shots on goal, but nothing threatening. In the 33rd minute, Gibbons scored again -- Jennifer Grant drove in a header to put the Chiefs up 2-0.

2:41 p.m.: In the 21st minute, Cypress defender Jesse Minor earned a yellow card after tripping up Gibbon's Kim Schumacher just outside of Cypress' penalty box. The teams are taking a water break.

2:37 p.m.: Gibbons is peppering Helenbrook in goal. The Chiefs had four or five consecutive shots. One was blocked by a Cypress defender, one bounced off the cross bar and the others didn't make it through the mix. The Panthers are having trouble establishing their possession style of play. It's easy to see why Cardinal Gibbons is ranked No. 6 in the country.

2:32 p.m.: In the 11th minute, Cardinal Gibbons April Ortenzo had a shot on an open net after Cypress keeper Ashley Helenbrook came out of the goal. The ball looked clear, but Panther junior Desiree Meyer found it and blocked it with her body as she dove to the ground. Gibbons still leads 1-0.

2:28 p.m.: In the seventh minute, Cardinal Gibbons scored. Kim Schumacher drove the ball into the upper right side of the net on a pass from Sara Trexler. The Chiefs lead 1-0.

2:20 p.m.: Just a few seconds after kickoff Cypress midfielder Amanda Buxton took a ball square to the head. She seems to have shaken it off and is still on the field. Cardinal Gibbons Brittany D'Annunzio just did a cartwheel on an inbounds pass. It looked cool, but bounced off the side of the net, allowing Cypress to regain possession.

2:16 p.m.: Panthers junior defender Carley Maniscalco was honored with the Marines Courage Award.

2:12 p.m.: The teams have lined up at the center of the field for the announcing of the names. The Panthers walked hand in hand. Kickoff will take place in a few minutes.

1:45 p.m.: Cypress Lake has taken the field at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium. They are wearing purple jerseys with white shorts. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons is wearing white uniforms with red lettering.
The Panthers are the home team.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

Cypress Lake is playing in the state Class 4A semifinals against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons at Pepin Stadium at the University of Tampa.

Later today look for photos and a photo gallery.