PHU Soccer Won District & PCAC Titles in 2015
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- January 23, 2015
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EAST LAKE — From tough defense to cramping desperation, rivals Palm Harbor University and East played valiantly through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods in the Class 5A, District 7 championship game. With no score, they extended the game as far as it could go — to the drama of penalty kicks.
The end came on the final kick of the first round Friday, when the Hurricanes’ Ryan Cooksey hit a shot that sailed past the arms of diving Eagles goalkeeper Sean Caulfield to give PHU a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks and the title.
The Hurricanes (15-1-2) are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and won their first district title since ’10.
Cooksey had the winner but PHU goalkeeper Hayden Grooms also came through in the clutch — again.
Grooms stopped East Lake’s fifth penalty kick attempt, setting up Cooksey’s winner. It was the second straight district game Grooms changed momentum. On Wednesday, he had the pivotal stop in penalty kicks as the Hurricanes beat Steinbrenner in the semifinals to avenge their only district loss.
“It’s been an exhausting week, but it was worth it to win the title,” Grooms said. “We played two games that went into double overtime. We were tired. But I think we just wanted it more at the end.”
Grooms has overcome numerous injuries to become PHU’s most valuable player in the district tournament.
In middle school, Grooms had a herniated disc and back spasms that prevented him from playing in seventh and eighth grade. The junior still is on medication and goes to physical therapy. He also suffered a torn meniscus this year that will most likely require surgery once the season ends.
“Hayden has had to get through a lot,” Hurricanes coach Wipoj Huse said. “He’s toughed it out, and has been so huge for us.”
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