Lancers top Terps
in battle of Tampa

By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Times Correspondent
Published 9/19/98 in the St. Petersburg Times, ©1998

TAMPA – A critical penalty kick in the second half broke open a scoreless game, giving Seminole Presbyterian the momentum it needed to defeat Tampa Prep 2-0 in a steady rain on Friday.

Seminole Presbyterian (6-2) outshot the Terrapins 8-1 in the first half, but could not convert. Tampa Prep goalie Danny Wendlek came up with several key saves to keep the game even.

In the 10th minute, Lancer forward Brian Samilian carried the ball to the left corner and crossed to a wide open Bryan Dearolff in the middle. Dearolff shot the ball high over the goal.

Early in the second half, the Terrapins (4-2-1) began to attack in earnest and came close with a flurry of shots. On one play, Brian Thomas took a through pass from Jonathon Nimphie and beat Lancer goalie John Beckel, but Baker Mabry came in at the last second to tackle the ball away.

Immediately after the play, the Lancers charged back on a counter attack, and Samilian was taken down in the box on the breakaway. This time, Dearolff calmly converted on the penalty kick to give Seminole the lead in the 54th minute.

""Tampa Prep is always a big game for us,’’ Dearolff said. ""We were a little nervous at first. Then, when we settled down and started getting more comfortable, we began to make some plays.’’

Samilian put the game out of reach in the 76th minute on a breakaway. David Smolker, who had done a good job marking Samilian the whole game, had pushed forward trying to get the equalizer. Samilian took a through ball from Dearolff and raced into the box unmolested to cap the insurance goal.

The Lancers, ranked 10th in the FACA state poll, lost most of their offense to graduation last year, but sweeper Mabry and goalie Beckel anchor a veteran defense. ""We mainly strive off our defense,’’ Samilian said. ""We hope for a shutout, and try to get by on one or two goals.’’

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