• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Winning tradition being set at Wharton

November 15, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Two years ago, the Wharton girls soccer team captured the program’s first postseason berth and district championship.

“That was probably the best experience of my life,” said senior defender Sam Lawrence. “It was crazy. We were just unstoppable at that point I feel like. We were on a high. We want to repeat it.”

The Wildcats (4-0-1) were agonizingly close to making it back-to-back playoff appearances last season. They lost 3-2 in penalty kicks to Newsome in the Class 5A-District 7 semifinals.

Wildcats senior forward Ashni Deschenes returns after scoring a team-high 14 goals last season.

“When I think about the game, it brings back all the feelings of how we just put everything we had out there,” said senior forward Ashni Deschenes, a Stetson University commit. “Sometimes it’s just not enough. For me, it drives me to work harder this year and encourage my teammates to work harder so that maybe if we’re put in the same situation it’ll be another outcome.”

That determination to get back shows how far the program has developed since Denis Vukorep became the coach seven years ago.

“As the years have gone by, we’ve slowly gained confidence each season,” Vukorep said. “I think the girls believe that they can win, and I think that across the county and state we’re a lot more respected. The girls feel that, and the confidence has helped us get better.”

Wharton lost seven seniors from the 2011-12 squad, six of whom were starters. Deschenes (14 goals, six assists) said she looked up to those players.

“Our captains last year (Emily Belanger and Baylee Dozark) were kind of like the moms of the team,” Deschenes said. “You could go to them for anything. Now that Sam and I are captains this year, I can only speak for myself, and I hope to be in that same mom role and be a great leader for my teammates.”

Vukorep said the loss of those seniors will hurt the squad, but is confident in the players still wearing Wildcats blue.

“It sounds weird to say when you lose six seniors who were starters, but I feel like with the kids who have gotten better and the new players we can potentially and should be even better than last year,” Vukorep said. “I guess it’s odd, but I think we will be better. You look at girls like Ashni, Leah Chisolm, Laura Johnson, Lexie Oeth, they’re going to be a formidable attack. We’ve got good senior leadership with Sam Lawrence in the middle of the field, and she’s going to be able to calm down the freshmen.”

One of the places that was hit most by graduation was goalkeeper.

The Wildcats lose three-year starter Heather Montgomery, who allowed 21 goals in as many games with 107 saves and six shutouts last season.

Stepping into the net is senior Courtney Bodamer, who was on the squad two years ago and said she learned a lot from watching Montgomery.

“She helped me with everything,” Bodamer said. “Confidence is a big thing, and then with skill and (she) taught me more about the game in high school. I was really thankful to have her. … I’m a little nervous, but I think we’ll have a good team. I just have to bring my game.”

Vukorep has a plan to help ease Bodamer into the mix.

“From what we’ve seen, Courtney will be able to make the saves that we need,” Vukorep said. “We’re hoping that the other 10 girls on the field limit her exposure to some of those shots. Try to force them to take shots that are savable and not giving up breakaways and set pieces.”

Vukorep said playing in 5A-7 with teams like Newsome, Plant and Bloomingdale will force them to get better quickly. He added, that, mixed with their new winning mentality will benefit them this season.

“Everyone in our district understands if you get out of our district, then you have a chance at a state championship,” Vukorep said. “I think that within our group we don’t look at it as we almost beat someone. There’s an expectation that we are going to go to regionals. Four years ago we didn’t have that expectation, and I think now it’s not a matter of if we make regionals. It’s, OK, we are going on to regionals. I think that expectation is one of the biggest difference.”

The 5A-7 tournament is at Plant Jan. 15 to 19, with the final Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.

Wharton hosts district rival Durant Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Exciting things are happening at Del Webb Bexley, the 55+ active adult residential community just off Sunlake Boulevard, … [Read More...] about New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

TPA-Parkview-Myrtle

Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to thoughtful details and meaningful value … [Read More...] about Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza on April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be bounce houses, games, music, food trucks, and scheduled egg scrambles. The event will be at the outside football fields and basketball court. Registration is required to participate in the egg scrambles. The cost is $3 per child. Children ages 2 to 10 can register with their age division and time frame at Secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl/catalog. For questions, call 813-929-1220. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

The Downtown Dade City Art Walk will take place April 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be more than 20 art locations for guests to meet the artists and shop local artwork, as well as a little Pre-Casso Exhibit for young aspiring artists. There will be an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., along with a map distribution, at Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

Hope City Church, 5513 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an Easter Bash on April 1, for the whole family. Admission is free. For information, call 813-948-7555. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

04/01/2023 – Historical Association

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet on April 1 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Participants can discover and discuss historical events, places and people of Zephyrhills and Pasco County. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Historical Association

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: