LAND O’LAKES — Sunlake’s domination of visiting Pasco extended to six games with Monday night’s 7-0 shutout in a Class 3A, District 8 match. That stretch includes five straight shutouts.
Pasco (5-2-1) had not lost since its season opener against River Ridge. The Seahawks extended their seasonlong unbeaten streak (7-0-1) and have outscored the Pirates 21-0 in their past five meetings.
“I expected to win the game, but 7-0 is a little high,” Sunlake coach Sam Koleduk said. “We match up well against Pasco. They beat Land O’Lakes 2-0 so this is a good win for us.”
Warren Lowery, the junior varsity coach filling in for coach Barry Grayling, who missed the game to be with his wife who is hospitalized, said his team should not get down after the loss to Sunlake.
“I’m not worried about the two Sunlake games because they’re going to beat everybody,” he said. “We’ve got to beat River Ridge and Land O’Lakes.”
Remi Pimm led Sunlake with a hat trick and added an assist to earn seven points. The sophomore forward, who leads the Seahawks with 17 goals and 10 assists, scored off a goalmouth scramble in the ninth minute and six minutes later popped the ball over the head of Pasco goalkeeper Noe Esqueda. Pimm closed out the scoring by stuffing his own rebound near the left post.
Midfielder Chris Wilkinson scored once, a 20-yard blast for his third of the season, and had three assists. Austin Goble got his fourth and fifth goals on feeds from Wilkinson and Pimm.
Another bright spot for Sunlake was the first varsity goal by junior varsity callup Tariq Michael, who gave his team a 4-0 halftime lead off a nice cross from Wilkinson.
Sunlake keeper Danny Hrenko faced just four shots and made three saves.
Montverde 3, Mitchell 1: Mitchell fell to Montverde Academy in New Port Richey. Senior Mico Petrovic scored the Mustangs’ goal halfway through the second half.
“That’s one of the top teams in the country, and they showed it,” Mitchell coach Oscar Ubillus said.
The Eagles led 2-0 at halftime. Petrovic’s goal drew the Mustangs (8-2) within reach of a tie, but Montverde (10-1-1) was awarded a penalty kick with a few minutes remaining.
“I’m proud of the guys against a team like that,” Ubillus said.
Girls soccer
Hudson defeated rival Fivay (8-1-3) 1-0. The teams went scoreless in their first matchup this season, but this time around the Cobras earned a point with a penalty kick in the second half.
“It was a very well-played game by both sides,” Falcons coach Christine Rizzieri said. “I think it was a very evenly played game by both sides.”
The win allows Hudson (9-4-1) to climb in Class 3A, District 7.
“They got a penalty kick, and they made it, and that was the difference in the game,” Rizzieri said.
Sunlake 7, Pasco 0: Sunlake defeated district rival Pasco (7-3) in Dade City. The Seahawks (8-1-2) led 3-0 after one half. Cassidy Place scored twice.
Emily Higgins is out with an MCL tear, and another key offensive player was also out for Sunlake, coach Jami Finan said.
“I think they did very well considering those losses,” she said.
Boys basketball: Beef 'O' Brady's Tournament
Local basketball players weren’t on vacation or waiting in long lines on Black Friday.
The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Tournament at River Ridge kicked off with a matchup between Central (2-3) and Fivay (2-4), which the Bears won 59-45.
River Ridge (3-3) defeated Crystal River (1-3) 66-41 in the next game. John Childs led the Royal Knights with 28 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocks.
The Falcons defeated Crystal River the second day of the tournament, 59-57.
River Ridge took the title by defeating Central 43-24 in Saturday’s championship game. The Knights’ Kyle McCoy led with 23 points, 17 rebounds and five assists.
McCoy and Childs were named co-MVPs. Other players receiving special recognition were Fivay’s Edward Graham, Crystal River’s Hunter Roessler, Central’s Sinjin Blaha and Terrance Hudson, and River Ridge’s Eliseo Sanchez.
Staff writer Mary Kenney contributed to this report.