By DAN HOEHNE
daniel.hoehne@newssun.com
There is a reason coaches so often harp on playing until the final whistle blows - which proved key in Sebring's district tournament match Tuesday night in Auburndale.
It was staying true to that mantra that kept the Streaks season alive for at least one more game.
In Auburndale for the District 13-3A Tournament, Sebring "played host" to Lake Wales and came away with a nail-biting, 4-3 win.
The regular season contests between the two saw a 1-1 tie on November 29, but then the Highlanders whipped up on the Streaks on December 13 with a 6-0 win.
But this one had more in common with the first meeting, with it going back-and-forth throughout.
Lake Wales scored the opening goal to take the early lead, only to see Sebring soon tie it up.
The trading off of goals continued, with Estebinson Joseph getting two scores for the Streaks and Marcelo Gori another.
But the Highlanders matched those and the contest was knotted at 3-3 with 15 seconds remaining.
Then it was Riley Watson booting a direct kick that was found the leaping noggin of Donovan White to redirected the flying orb netward for the game winner.
The win moved Sebring along to the district semifinals, where they were slated to face top-seed, and host, Auburndale Thursday night.
Though the season series looks a bit daunting for the Streaks, having dropped both matches to the Bloodhounds by 8-0 and 7-1 scores.
See Sunday's News-Sun for the match result.
News-Sun correspondent Lauren Welborn contributed to this story.
Friday, January 27, 2012 - www.newssun.com/FRI-1-27-12-SebSoccer