Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Lake Minneola at Leesburg, Monday, December 10, 2014


Lake Minneola at Leesburg

Lake Minneola's Chris Choong (9) and Leesburg's Ulises Raya (5) battle for the ball during Tuesday's match between Leesburg High School and Lake Minneola High School in Leesburg, Fla., on Dec. 9, 2014. 

This article was provided by Gerald LaceyGerald Lacey is the senior sports writer covering Leesburg High School Sports for the Carver Heights Quarterback Club. You can reach him at: geraldlacey@leesburgjacketsbasketball.com
 

Hawks, Yellow Jackets play to scoreless tie, December 10, 2014

BRETT LE BLANC / DAILY COMMERCIAL- Leesburg vs Lake Minneola, Leesburg's Garrett Fuestel (9) heads the ball during Tuesday's match between Leesburg High School and Lake Minneola High School in Leesburg, Fla., on Dec. 9, 2014. 

Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 6:00 am
 
LEESBURG — Lake Minneola coach Bryon Kelso is still waiting for his team to net a big-time goal.
The Hawks had their chances Tuesday night for one of those moments, but Leesburg keeper Patric Bushee denied them every time.
Bushee recorded seven saves, including five in the second half, as the match ended in a scoreless tie.

“I’m very pleased with the way my boys played,” Kelso said. “We had a lot of chances to get some there. Their keeper played a heck of a game. He saved them quite a few times and he was a big playmaker tonight.”

It showed early on, too.

In the eighth minute, Bushee squared up Chris Choong and denied his shot from just a couple feet away.

That was the only shot Bushee faced in the first half, but he saw six shots in the second half where the Yellow Jackets (1-3-3) struggled to keep the Hawks (4-3-3) out of their zone.
Lake Minneola got off 11 shots in the second half.

Arielle Luna fired shots on goal in the 49th and 57th minute but came up empty on both. The Hawks had another chance at a goal in the 64th minute, but Mikey Lemos’ shot went wide left.

“We’ve scored goals, but we haven’t had that big moment goal that we can really just feel really good about celebrating,” Kelso said. “I think tonight could’ve been a good opportunity on that and I think it really could’ve helped us turn a tide and do some really good things.”

Despite missing on some opportunities, Kelso was pleased with the effort.

“I like what we’re doing,” he said. "We’re playing well; we’re playing the best we’ve played this season, that’s all I can ask for. I’m kind of excited to go forward.”

Much like the Hawks, Leesburg also had its chances to find the back of the net.

Colton Northcott had an opening in the 19th minute, but his shot went left of the net and keeper Chandler Shiley.

In the 37th minute, Northcott delivered a nice pass to Eduardo Luna but Luna’s shot sailed high.

“I think for us it was a good performance,” Yellow Jackets coach George Intveld said. “We have a brand new team this year and it takes a little bit of time to get going. (Lake) Minneola is considered one of the better teams and actually, with a little bit of luck we could’ve scored two goals, but sometimes the ball just doesn’t fall. On the other side, with a little bit of bad luck they could’ve scored two goals, so I think the end result was fair.”

This article was provided by Gerald LaceyGerald Lacey is the senior sports writer covering Leesburg High School Sports for the Carver Heights Quarterback Club. You can reach him at: geraldlacey@leesburgjacketsbasketball.com