DADE CITY — The outcome of Tuesday night’s game between Sunshine Athletic Conference rivals Pasco and Hudson was hardly indicative of the teams’ matching 1-0 records.
The host Pirates dominated in an 8-0 win at W.F. Edwards Stadium and, coupled with Monday’s 5-3 defeat of Nature Coast, have outscored the opposition 13-3 in two games.
“It’s a good number, but we haven’t been tested,” said Pasco coach Barry Grayling, who felt his team should have been up by at least that margin by halftime.
He had a point. Despite taking a 5-0 halftime lead, the Pirates missed on several close-range bids including two breakaways and a pair of 2-on-1s.
For the Cobras, who are missing four starters including three football players, and field a lineup that includes seven freshmen, it proved to be a learning experience.
“This is a lesson in humility, boys,” Hudson coach Jeff Wills told his players during the break.
Hudson goalkeeper Nicholas Speessen kept his teammates from being humbled even more by coming up with a handful of stellar saves on breakaways and close shots. He finished with 12 saves on 20 shots and was helped out a bit with the Pirates clanking balls off posts twice and the crossbar twice.
As for the scoring, Carlos Riojas paced Pasco with a hat trick and an assist for seven points. Luis Salas scored twice and Devon Easley added a goal and two assists. Daniel Navarro chipped in with a goal and an assist, and Richard Perez scored once. Michael Bernosky rounded out the scoring with two assists.
Although neither keeper saw a shot, Noe Esquada and Angel Garcia split time in the Pasco nets for the second straight game.