Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

Player of the Year: Robert Davis, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Davis was by any measure the most productive running back in the area, rushing for 2,221 yards on 203 carries, 10.94 per attempt, and 26 touchdowns, but his impact to the Patriots district title season and run to the Class 2A regional finals went deeper. He also recorded 46 tackles and five passes defensed as a defensive back to help Carrollwood Day go 10-2 and get to the doorstep of the final four.

 

Football offensive first team

–Quarterback: Alex McGough, Jr., Gaither. Shouldered much more of the offense in his second year on the squad. Completed 114 of 212 passes for 1,729 yards and 22 touchdowns.

–Running back: Eddie Burgos, Sr., Sunlake. Moved from wide receiver to run for 1,013 yards on 135 carries and 15 touchdowns while catching 17 passes for 152 yards and two scores.

–Running back: Jeff Keil, Jr., Wharton. One of the most dangerous runners in the second half of the year. Totaled 701 yards on 132 carries and eight touchdowns with another 425 yards on 28 catches and two scores.

–Running back: Kendall Pearcey, Sr., Steinbrenner. The versatile back ran for 756 yards on 118 carries and a team-high 11 touchdowns while adding 15 catches for 263 yards and another score.

–Receiver: Jon Marc Carrier, Sr., Steinbrenner. Was a big-play threat all year. Had 646 yards on 24 catches, 26.92 average, with five touchdowns.

–Receiver: Andy Embody, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Led all area athletes with 973 yards on 49 catches and 17 touchdowns for the district champion Patriots.

–Receiver: Keith Hopkins, Sr., Wharton. Snagged 47 catches for 902 yards and eight touchdowns while drawing double-teams to help free up other receivers.

–Receiver: Vu Le, Sr., Gaither. Listed as a running back, but did most of his damage as a receiver, catching 22 passes for 435 yards and six touchdowns.

–Offensive line: Sunlake. The unit, which is made up of five seniors, includes center Aaron Protch, tackles Trevor Highnote and Nick Hoffman and guards She’ron Wilkins and Zach Kweller. The Seahawks set a program record by rushing for 2,388 yards in large part to the big five.

–Utility: Shug Oyegunle, Sr., Gaither. Kept defenses guessing by catching 21 passes for 468 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 218 yards on 33 carries and another score.

 

Football offensive second team

–Quarterback: Vidal Woodruff, Sr., Carrollwood Day. The Robinson transfer gave the Patriots a true passing attack. Completed 96 of 155 passes for 1,649 yards and 25 touchdowns.

–Running back: Daquan Caesar, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Saved his best season for his last. Ran for 671 yards on 125 carries and five scores.

–Running back: Jake Carroll, Jr., Steinbrenner. A torn ACL ended his season early last year. Returned to rush for 506 yards on 120 carries and a touchdown.

–Running back: Sammy Sullivan, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. The Sunlake transfer powered his way to 391 yards on 51 carries while finding the end zone four times.

–Receiver: Marcus Brown, Sr., Gaither. The large target helped the Cowboys move the chains with 372 yards on 28 catches and five scores.

–Receiver: Alunte Fleshman, Sr., Freedom. The Patriots’ big-play threat grabbed 20 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns.

–Receiver: Deon Sampson, Sr., Wharton. The Wildcats’ underneath threat snagged 35 catches for 476 yards and eight touchdowns.

–Receiver: Ryan Shea, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The athletic Shea was a bright spot for the Bulls. Had 23 catches for 473 yards and two scores.

–Offensive line: Carrollwood Day. Center Jarrod Smith, guards Shilpen Patel and Adam Morse and tackles Carlos Acuna and Collin DeBosier. The line helped the Patriots average 390.8 yards of offense, 253.1 on the ground, and 38.8 points per contest.

–Utility: Austin Meyers, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Ran for 435 yards on 65 carries and eight touchdowns while adding another 348 yards on 26 catches and three scores.

 

Football offensive honorable mention

–Quarterback: R.J. Perciavalle, Jr., Bishop McLaughlin. Went 89-of-168 passing for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns.

–Quarterback: Josh Zifer, Sr., Sunlake. Had 491 yards on 51-of-85 passing and four scores, but shined more with his legs to the tune of 146 carries for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns.

–Running back: Andre Folkes, Jr., Freedom. The quick back carried the ball 81 times for 372 yards.

–Running back: Evan Gordy, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. The powerful fullback recorded 479 yards on 90 carries and 15 touchdowns.

–Running back: Ahkill McGill, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Had 599 yards on 48 carries and 15 touchdowns as the wingback in the Wildcats’ wing-T offense.

–Receiver: Kyle Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Used his 6-foot-3 frame to catch 18 passes for 249 yards and a score.

–Receiver: Nate Lewis, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Had 469 yards on 19 catches and four touchdowns after missing half of 2011 with an ACL tear.

–Receiver: Johnny Rodicio, So., Freedom. Snagged 25 passes for 383 yards and two touchdowns.

–Receiver: Auden Tate, So., Wharton. The sophomore added to the Wharton’s explosive offense with 401 yards on 27 catches and two scores.

–-Utility: Colton Nussel, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Carried the ball 37 times for 229 yards and four scores while adding 321 yards on 18 catches and another two touchdowns.

 

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Litton, Jr., Wharton. Litton went 181-of-310 passing for 2,732 yards, more than any other area athlete, with 23 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, but there was more on the 6-foot-6 junior’s shoulders. Wharton had to rely on passing game this year after the graduation of 1,300-plus yard running back Darius Page, and Litton picked up the slack to reach back-to-back postseasons.

 

Football defensive first team

–Linebacker: Jamari Cord, Sr., Gaither. Was always in the right spot to make big plays. Had 100 tackles, five sacks and four fumble recoveries.

–Linebacker: Rocky Enos, Sr., Wharton. Led all area athletes with 145 tackles while adding two sacks for the staunch Wildcats defense.

–Linebacker: Logan Marshall, Sr., Gaither. Recorded 108 tackles and five sacks as a key piece of the Cowboys’ defense.

–Linebacker: Logan McKnight, Sr., Steinbrenner. Topped 100 tackles again this season with 107, including 7.5 sacks, while picking off two passes.

–Defensive line: Nick Hoffman, Sr., Sunlake. Had four sacks and 44 tackles while deflecting three passes at the line.

–Defensive line: Antonio Joseph, Jr., Wharton. Racked up 66 tackles, seven passes defensed and 4.5 sacks as a defensive end.

–Defensive line: Max Orr, Sr., Freedom. Led all area athletes with 12.5 sacks with 65 tackles and forcing four fumbles.

–Defensive line: Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. The defensive end lived in the opponents’ backfield with 6.5 sacks and 60 tackles.

–Defensive back: Eddie Burgos, Sr., Sunlake. The Seahawks’ top cover corner had four interceptions and five passes defensed.

–Defensive back: Javon Hammond, Jr., Gaither. Recorded four interceptions and 43 tackles as a first-year starter.

–Defensive back: Vernon Hargreaves, Sr., Wharton. Picked off five passes with five passes defensed, five forced fumbles and 110 tackles.

–Defensive back: Tyler McClain, Sr., Steinbrenner. Led the Warriors with four interceptions and seven passes defensed while adding 66 tackles.

–Utility: D.J. King, Jr., Gaither. Played safety, corner back, linebacker and anywhere else needed. Had 76 tackles as the Cowboys’ Mr. Versatile.

 

Football defensive second team

–Linebacker: Dom Neglio, Sr., Gaither. Seamlessly moved from running back this season. Had 85 tackles, including a sack.

–Linebacker: Sammy Sullivan, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Led his squad with 115 tackles, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries while adding four sacks.

–Linebacker: Matt Williams, Jr., Gaither. Led the Cowboys defense with 117 tackles while adding one sack.

–Linebacker: Ben Wood, Jr., Sunlake. A central point on the best scoring defense in the area. Had 86 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles.

–Defensive line: Andres Bautista, So., Steinbrenner. Picked up 53 tackles and a sack for one of the top defenses in the area.

–Defensive line: Justin Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Sacked the quarterback 4.5 times while adding 40 tackles and forcing three fumbles.

–Defensive line: Zack Lockhart, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Recorded three sacks, 57 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

–Defensive line: Jeshua Williams, Sr., Gaither. Picked up three sacks and 36 tackles in his first year starting.

–Defensive back: Joe Jean-Baptiste, Jr., Sunlake. The first-year starter had two interceptions, seven passes defensed and 51 tackles.

–Defensive back: Trey Johnson, Sr., Steinbrenner. Defensed six passes and 37 tackles while covering the opposition’s top receiver.

–-Defensive back: Amani Oruwariye, Jr., Gaither. Picked off three passes while adding 43 tackles.

–Defensive back: Larenz Scroggins, So., Land O’ Lakes. Had three interceptions, five passes defensed and 24 tackles.

–Utility: Shyheem Barthel, Jr., Steinbrenner. Totaled 4.5 sacks, 40 tackles and two interceptions as a true hybrid player.

 

Football defensive honorable mention

–Linebacker: Richie Bisaccia, Sr., Freedom. Recorded 61 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

–-Linebacker: Dominic Cuono, Jr., Carrollwood Day. Led an improved CDS defense with 129 tackles and 3.5 tackles.

–Linebacker: Kyle Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The two-way starter totaled 40 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

–-Linebacker: Colin Irwin, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. The inside backer ended the season with 94 tackles.

–-Linebacker: Darius Wells, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Led the Gators with 105 tackles while causing two fumbles.

–-Defensive line: Elijah Brooks-Davis, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Ended up with 4.5 sacks and 39 tackles.

–-Defensive line: Amari Brown, Sr., Steinbrenner. Picked up 4.5 sacks and 76 tackles this season.

–-Defensive line: Evan Gordy, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Got to the quarterback for four sacks while adding 34 tackles.

–Defensive line: Thanasi Halkias, Sr., Gaither. Didn’t have the stats of others on his squad (30 tackles, two sacks) but played a key role at nose guard.

–-Defensive line: Daniel Ibsen, Jr., Wharton. Recorded 2.5 sacks and 40 tackles for the suffocating Wharton defense.

–-Defensive back: Max Frankel, So., Carrollwood Day. The sophomore posted 89 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

–-Defensive back: Nate Godwin, Sr., Freedom. Had two interceptions, five passes defensed and 47 tackles.

–Defensive back: Woodson Hyppolite, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The senior had two forced fumbles and 54 tackles.

–Defensive back: Daniel Villar, Sr., Steinbrenner. Had four passes defensed and 49 tackles for the Warriors.

–-Defensive back: Josias Vizcano, Jr., Wesley Chapel. The safety ended the season with 48 tackles, five sacks and an interception.

–-Utility: Lawrence Harbottlefraticelli, Jr., Wesley Chapel. Played at all levels of the defense and finished with 108 tackles.

–Utility: Isaac Tanner, Sr., Freedom. One of the Patriots’ team leaders had 4.5 sacks and 55 tackles.

 

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Ernest Suttles, Sr., Gaither. The defensive end terrorized opposing quarterbacks and running backs to the tune of 12 sacks, 88 tackles and four forced fumbles. The University of Iowa commit did much of his damage while fighting through double-teams and constantly being held and cut blocked on almost every play. His strength, speed and ability to read offenses made him someone the opposition had to account for on each down.

 

Football special teams

–-Returner: Andy Embody, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Totaled 475 yards on 16 punt and five kickoff returns.

–Returner: Keith Hopkins, Sr., Wharton. Shined as a kick returner, where he had 13 attempts for 310 yards.

–-Returner: Kendall Pearcey, Sr., Steinbrenner. Returned seven kickoffs for 331 yards and 14 punts for 160 yards.

–-Kicker: Conner Gilboy, Sr., Sunlake. Gilboy had 53 kickoffs, of which 26 found the end zone for touchbacks. Also had seven field goals and 29 extra points.

–Kicker: Dalton Gilson, Sr., Gaither. Turned 42 kickoffs into 36 touchbacks with four field goals and 31 converted extra points.

–Punter: Chase Litton, Jr., Wharton. Averaged 39.82 yards on his 28 punts while pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line nine times.

–-Punter: Dino Tsilionis, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Averaged 32.42 yards per punt on 33 attempts while dropping nine inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

 

 

Coach of the Year: Bill Browning, Sunlake. Question marks were all around Browning’s team entering this season. The Seahawks graduated their top four rushers, leading receiver, starting quarterback, four starting offensive linemen and leading tackler from the 2011 squad. This season Sunlake went 8-2 scoring 30.2 points per game while allowing

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Tenacious. Strong. Relentless.

They’re words that generally describe a powerful linebacker in football, a towering forward in basketball and a physically imposing pitcher in baseball or softball.

At Wiregrass Ranch, the words also depict a soccer forward, but she doesn’t fit the usual mold of a dominating athlete.

In fact, Berlin Waters is someone most opponents likely don’t notice at first. She’s only 5-foot, but it doesn’t take more than a few moments on the field to realize just how difficult it is to contain her.

Her teammate Ashley Murphy, a senior defender, had the same eye-opening discovery when she met Waters as members of the same Central Pasco United Soccer Association (CPUSA) club team as freshmen.

“I didn’t think much of her at first,” Murphy said. “I had to defend her, and I thought it wouldn’t be hard. … She’s just so little, but then you see how fast she is and you’re like, how? Then you try and knock her off the ball, and you can’t do that either.”

Waters’ speed is what people usually notice first.

“It’s kind of crazy,” said Bulls senior defender Lauren Gordon. “I just watch her take off and think, wow, there’s another goal; there’s another great play.”

Waters said she first realized she was faster than most people while attending Quail Hollow Elementary in Wesley Chapel.

“We’d have races around P.E.,” Waters said. “I’d always be up there with the guys in front.”

Waters began developing a passion for soccer around the same time. She started playing recreationally with the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) at age 8, but her fearlessness developed much earlier.

“I have two brothers who always push me around and make me tougher,” said Waters, who has committed to play at Saint Leo University. “I just love soccer, and the competition makes we want to go out there and do the best that I can.”

Waters moved up to competitive club soccer with the CPUSA, where she met first-year Wiregrass Ranch coach Eddy Costa.

“One of the things about her is once she gets the ball in front of her, she has that tenacity to get to the goal,” Costa said. “She creates a lot of chances, and that’s big because if you create 10 chances you might score two goals, but if you only create two or three chances you might not score at all. With Berlin, that tenacity she has is something other teams are going to have to reckon with.”

Costa, who was an assistant for the U17 CPUSA team that Waters won a state cup with, said she also adds more than just goals and assists.

“It’s nothing but a positive situation with Berlin,” Costa said. “She’s definitely a team leader on the field and she’s an impact player.”

Waters attended Academy at the Lakes as a freshman. The Wildcats didn’t have a girls soccer program that year, which left a competitive void for Waters.

She transferred to Wiregrass Ranch as a sophomore, a season where she racked up 21 goals and 19 assists to helps the Bulls earn their first playoff berth, win their first district championship and reach the regional finals.

“It was awesome coming in new to the school, just meeting everybody and we come out and win all these games was amazing,” Waters said. “We had such a good team and good chemistry.”

The pressure to produce jumped last season. A torn ACL left the Bulls without leading scorer A.J. Blount, who had 40 goals in 2010-11.

Waters rose to the challenge, posting 23 goals while adding 10 assists for a Wiregrass Ranch team that went 17-5. Her tally total not only led her squad, but also made her the leading scorer in Class 4A-District 8.

“She just went out there and did her thing again,” Gordon said. “She always does.”

Waters is tied for the team lead with 12 goals this season while adding five assists to the 11-1 Bulls.

Waters is not a one-sport athlete.

She has been a key member of the Bulls cross country team the last two years, helping the program win two Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) and district championships. They also earned a regional title this season and finished sixth at the 3A state meet, while Waters placed 24th with a new personal record (PR) by completing the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes 21 seconds.

“When she came to us I knew she was athletic,” said Wiregrass Ranch cross country coach Don Howard. “What I didn’t know was how competitive she is. She always wants to run faster each day. She’s always looking to win.”

Competing in two sports gives her the chance to win twice as much, but also puts double the miles on her body. Each day after school, Waters participates with the soccer team and then either goes to club practice or runs cross country while in season.

“I have to go and take ice baths because it’s so much stress on my legs,” Waters said. “I learn to manage it, sometimes. … My mom, it’s a lot of stress on her and my dad. It’s a lot of planning of when to leave, when to pick me up and if we have time to get everywhere. It’s a lot of planning, and I couldn’t do it without my parents help.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Freedom High’s gym erupted with 2:43 left in the third quarter when senior Faith Woodard put in her 20th point of the night.

The layup put the Patriots (7-0) ahead 53-31, but those specific points were more memorable than just another two in a 31-point blowout of Hillsborough Dec. 3.

They moved her to 1,500 career points.

“I never thought this would happen,” said Woodard, who picked up basketball in second grade. “I thought 1,000 points was a big milestone. Now, 1,500 is even better.”

Woodard, a 6-foot-2 forward, said she had no idea she had reached the milestone when it happened. She was a bit confused when her coach Laurie Pacholke took a timeout after the layup and why the crowd was so excited

“I was just thinking about the game and Hillsborough, so I actually forgot about being 20 points away from 1,500,” Woodard said. “When everyone stopped and were screaming I thought someone got hurt or something. … Everyone in the stands was yelling one more, one more, and I was just thinking one more what?”

Pacholke said the fact that Woodard had no idea how close she was to the mark speaks to her mentality.

“She’s the epitome of a great teammate,” Pacholke said. “She’s going to come in and do what she has to do. She was getting hammered in that first half, not getting the calls and she could have easily lost her cool and given up. The fact that she didn’t know where she was and was the most shocked one on the floor is impressive. That’s just the character of that kid.”

The 1,500th point came while running a two-on-one fast break. Sophomore guard Taylor Emery had the ball on the right side and dished to the open Woodard for the milestone.

Woodard transferred from Riverview during the summer with senior point guard Monet Williams. The two have played together since the eighth grade, and Williams was on the floor when Woodard reached 1,500.

“She can get it done and score the ball when it’s needed,” Williams said. “I was with her for the 1,000th point, so to be here for the 1,500th, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Pacholke said reaching 1,500 points at the level Woodard has been playing speaks volumes of her as a player.

“I’m happy she’s here to get that milestone,” Pacholke said. “If things keep up, she might even hit 2,000, and you don’t see that. You see it sometimes at private schools or outside in smaller counties, but for a four-year varsity kid at (Class) 7A basketball, that’s impressive.”

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Steinbrenner girls basketball player Bailey Hooker worked nearly four years for a milestone she accomplished in just 10 minutes and 24 seconds.

The senior forward/guard received a cross-court pass from Olivia Unger, took one step outside the arc and swished a 3-point shot to secure her 1,000th career point in the second quarter of the Warriors’ 65-58 win at Tampa Bay Tech (TBT) Dec. 3. She is the first in the program’s four-year history to reach the milestone.

“It was just a lot of energy, and it definitely fueled me for the rest of the game,” said Hooker, who was given a standing ovation by fans. “Just the people up in the stands, my family and my team, just knowing that it was my 1,000th point and seeing (a) sign go up saying congrats, it’s just a really great feeling. … My points are from my team. I wouldn’t have gotten them without (Unger’s) assist and my point guard and the rest of my team.”

Steinbrenner coach JR Allen called a timeout after Hooker passed the mark in order for the rest of the team to relish the moment.

“I’ve never coached a 1,000-point scorer, so it’s a cool night for me too because she got those points from some of the offenses and stuff that I created,” Allen said. “She bought in and believed, and her teammates did the same thing. It’s just a special night for Steinbrenner, it’s a special night for Bailey Hooker and for (everyone) that was able to be a part of it.”

Led by Hooker’s team-high 26 points –14 in the second quarter — the Warriors (9-0) never trailed after the first five minutes, but the Titans (6-4) kept it close until the final buzzer.

Allen said the game plan wasn’t about letting Hooker get to 1,000. It was about defeating Tampa Bay Tech, which he called “one of the best wins” for the program ever.

“It wasn’t something she was talking about a lot, and it wasn’t something I was advertising either,” Allen said. “I’ve preached from Day 1 that we’re all about a team right here. One of the cool things about Bailey is at halftime she was the first to say, ‘I don’t get that without the help of my teammates.’ That’s awesome that she’s on that page mentally.”

TBT brought the score within three early in the second half, but a 13-0 run by Steinbrenner squashed any hope of a late comeback.

Lauren Shedd (12 points) and Jessica Weatherman (four points) gave the Warriors key baskets during the run, and Hooker topped it off with one final 3-pointer with five minutes left in the game.

She said getting to the milestone was on her mind all weekend after she came within 13 points of reaching 1,000 at home against Gaither Nov. 30. Her father Roy joked with her afterwards that if she averages 27 points the rest of the season, she could reach another milestone — 1,500.

The Warriors hosted Hillsborough Dec. 12, but results were not available by press time. Steinbrenner plays at home against district opponent Chamberlain Dec. 12 before a showdown with undefeated Class 7A-District 9 rival Freedom Dec. 13. Both games start at 8 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Two years ago, the Land O’ Lakes girls basketball team had, by any measure, the most successful season in program history.

The Gators (4-2) set a program record with 24 wins, claimed a district title and made the regional finals for the first time in the school’s 37-year history.

The squad lost four of five starters to graduation or transferring and slipped to 8-14 last season.

Now, in coach Phyllis Crain’s second year, Land O’ Lakes is starting to regain some of the confidence it had during the 2010-11 season.

“Last year was a development year,” said Crain, who played at Gulf and the University of Charleston and was an assistant at the University of Tampa for nine years. “We had to get the girls to learn the game of basketball and develop their skills more.”

A near upset at the end of last season showed the Gators a turnaround was coming.

They lost by just three to the eventual Class 6A-District 10 champion Tarpon Springs in the league semifinals.

“The team together started having more confidence,” said senior small forward Sarah Nichols. “We played with a team that is really up there, and that showed us what we can do.”

Crain said she’s seen something remain because of how last season ended.

“What has carried over was the work ethic that’s needed to be successful,” Crain said. “They’ve had a little bit of success, and they want more.”

Nichols knows firsthand how quickly a team can go from below .500 to elite.

Land O’ Lakes was 4-10 the year before the regional finals run, which was her first season on the varsity squad.

“I feel like we have a lot of potential this year too,” Nichols said.

The squad is forced to replace power forward Kendra Sheets, who led the Gators in points (7.5) and rebounds (9.1) per game last year.

“Kendra was very physical,” Crain said. “She’s hard to replace, but we have some kids stepping in and playing a little more physical, but Kendra, she could jump and really get after rebounds. We’re working toward building that same fighter mentality this year.”

Nichols (16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) has helped offset what Sheets did on the scoreboard and on the boards, as has freshman point guard Makala Canada (11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds).

“She’s been amazing,” Nichols said of Canada, who moved from New York in August. “I’m so happy she’s a part of the team. I had no idea she was coming in, and when I saw her the first time I was like, wow. She’s such a good player.”

Canada said she’s thrived in Crain’s clear-cut coaching nature.

“She’s very up-front with what she wants out of us, and when she wants it she lets you know,” Canada said. “She just wants us to do as much as we can to play as well as we’re able.”

Nichols said Crain has been a big reason why the Gators again believe they can be successful.

“She’s brought our confidence back,” Nichols said. “We lost all our players, and she had to help us rebuild again. She’s made us work hard; we’re getting better, and it’s great.”

Crain said confidence is important, but it’s just one element needed if Land O’ Lakes plans to return to the postseason.

“We have to play as a team and we have to be balanced,” Crain said. “You can’t just have one person scoring every night. If that happens then teams can just take that one person away. We have to play as a team, recognize it’s a team sport and understand that everyone is going to have their night.”

The Gators host Central Dec. 11 before traveling to Pasco and district rival Mitchell Dec. 12 and Dec. 14, respectively. All games start at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

More than just a win was on the line when Gaither boys soccer traveled to Steinbrenner Dec. 4.

The contest will likely be critical when it comes to seeding in the Class 4A-District 8 tournament next month, but the Warriors (5-0-2, 2-2) and Cowboys (3-5-2, 1-1-2) were also looking for bragging rights over their cross-town rival.

“It’s like FSU and UF football teams,” said Gaither senior forward Tyler Helm. “It’s one of the biggest games for us each year.”

The game ended 1-1, but both teams had multiple chances for more goals. The physical, frenetic and passionate play was brought on as much by the importance of the game in the district standings, but also how connected the teams are.

Almost all the players are members of Tampa Bay United. The club’s executive director is Eric Sims, who is also Gaither’s coach.

“Every game against Gaither is good,” said Steinbrenner coach Chad Ebright. “These boys grew up playing against each other, so it’s always competitive.”

This year’s contest was even more hotly contested because it was the first time the squads have matched up since Gaither knocked Steinbrenner out of playoff contention in the 4A-8 semifinals in January.

“We’ve all played with each other throughout middle school and high school at TBU,” said Warriors senior midfielder Logan Siben. “It’s a rivalry for that, and especially because they kicked us out of districts last year. It’s always going to be a rivalry with us and them. If we’re 10 times better than them, or they’re 10 times better than us, it’s always going to be a tough game.”

Steinbrenner entered the contest undefeated and untied, while Gaither was a game below .500. Sims said he was proud how his inexperienced squad hung in against the Warriors.

“They were 5-0 and return a lot of players, so it was a good measuring stick game for us,” Sims said. “I think a lot of our young guys grew up tonight, which was important. … At the end of the day it was a tie. We didn’t win, but it’s a good result for us.”

The Cowboys lost more than half of their starters from last year’s squad that won a district championship and made the final four. Helm said they have turned the corner after losing their first four games.

“The seniors are coming together and help the younger players,” Helm said. “The first couple of weeks the freshmen didn’t know that this is completely different from club. It’s much more physical and the refs don’t call things as tight.”

Steinbrenner pushed the attack early against Gaither, but the Cowboys’ defense held tough. Sims started Jared Gremely, Justin Santos, Ricardo Rivera and Juan Moreno on the backline, along with goalkeeper Kyle Smith, all of who are seniors.

“I felt like the seniors, with their experience, would keep us in it, and they did,” Sims said. “We just had to disrupt their possession, and the important thing is we didn’t let them have that third pass. They’d get two and we’d steal it.”

The Warriors broke through nine minutes after halftime.

Freshman defender Brett Wilkosz kept the ball in on a clearing attempted by the Cowboys. Siben picked up the loose ball, sprinted down the right sideline and fired a strong cross that was buried home by senior midfielder Austin Labban.

Siben had been sidelined for nearly three weeks with a pulled hamstring and was helped to the bench after the goal.

Gaither answered in the 60th minute when freshman midfielder Nicholas Ortiz kicked forward the ball deep in Warriors territory.

Senior midfielder Jhonathan Da Silva gathered the ball and found Helm, who fired a rocket for the equalizer.

“We gave a great effort,” Ebright said. “We had about five minutes after we scored that we fell back and tried to protect the lead instead of doing what got us ahead. Give it to Gaither. They came out hard for the tying goal.”

The Warriors picked up the pace in the final minutes, but the Cowboys backline again rose to the occasion.

“We were down pat on that defense,” Helm said. “We’ve been focusing on defensive shape and team defense with a purpose these last few games, and it worked.”

Smith had eight saves, while Steinbrenner junior goalkeeper Christian Knight had six.

Gaither hosts Hillsborough Dec. 11 before traveling to 4A-8 rival Freedom Dec. 14.  The Warriors play at Plant City Dec. 11 and at district rival Chamberlain Dec. 14. All games start at 8 p.m.

 

Warriors shut out Gaither, clinch No. 2 seed

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Steinbrenner girls soccer team picked up its second 4-0 victory in as many games by defeating Class 4A-District 8 rival Gaither at home Dec. 4.

The Warriors (6-4, 3-1) beat Robinson four days earlier with only two regular starters because many were out of state in various showcase tournaments.

The win over the Cowboys (3-5-1, 2-2), mixed with a 7-1 victory at Sickles Dec. 7, locked up the No. 2 district seed for Steinbrenner.

The win Dec. 4 also put the Warriors above .500 for the first time in two weeks.

“It was big, not only because it was a district game, but it starts the second half of our season,” said junior midfielder Dani Eule. “We’re getting players back from injuries, and we needed to make our mark as we go toward districts.”

The Warriors have been shorthanded by injuries throughout the year. Most of the players were back on the pitch against Gaither, which senior forward Alexis Bredeau said was a mental lift.

“We were without a lot of players to start the season, which of course isn’t an excuse,” Bredeau said. “We bonded with the players who filled in, and now that we’re getting everyone back I think it’s made us stronger. We have such great connections. With Miranda (Gonzalez) coming back, and one of our freshmen, Melissa Carroll, is back from a hip injury, so having them all on the field is a great advantage.”

Steinbrenner coach Angela Gillisse said the return of Gonzalez, who missed the first seven games with a torn hamstring, gave the team a huge confidence boost. The junior defender also played in the win against Robinson.

“All the girls who were gone when she played against Robinson were texting me saying, ‘Oh my gosh Miranda played,’” Gillisse said. “Tonight, for everyone to be here and see her play is big. She’s a huge leader. The attitude changes when she’s out there. It’s a complete 180 with her. They all want to work harder when she’s out there, so her presence is huge.”

Steinbrenner was without starting goalkeeper Stephanie Hirsch because of a groin injury. Senior Eleanor Wilson stepped into the net for the second straight game and recorded consecutive shutouts by making five saves.

“Walking away from that game against Robinson without nine starters I felt like it was the turning point,” Gillisse said. “Eleanor shut them out for a whole 80 minutes in goal, and it gave everyone confidence.”

The Warriors dominated possession for much of the first half, but the Cowboys defense held strong until the 26th minute thanks to senior midfielder Marley Opila’s second goal of the year.

Steinbrenner added another goal in the final minute before halftime when freshman forward Danielle Darius buried home a cross from senior midfielder Lauren Garris.

Bredeau scored her 12th and 13th goals of the season in the 66th and 88th minutes. She was sent on runs by through balls from Eule on both tallies.

“Dani did exactly what she’s supposed to as a center mid,” Opila said. “She distributed the ball out for our forwards to score.”

Gaither junior goalkeeper Amanda High made 15 saves.

The Warriors continued their offensive explosion with a 7-1 win at Sickles Dec. 7.

Bredeau (16 goals, 10 assists) had three goals in the contest and has put up seven in the last three games. Sophomore forward Jessica Taylor (10 goals, nine assists) also had three tallies in the contest, while Eule (five goals, six assists) found the back of the net once.

Wilson started in net against the Gryphons and recorded one save.

Steinbrenner plays at Plant City Dec. 11 and at district rival Chamberlain Dec. 14. Gaither hosts Hillsborough Dec. 11 before traveling to 4A-8 rival Freedom Dec. 14.  All games start at 8 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Wiregrass Ranch boys soccer team showed it is a force to be reckoned with in Class 4A-District 8 after a 6-0 dismantling of Gaither at home Dec. 7.

It is the first time the Bulls (8-3, 2-2) have beaten a district opponent besides Chamberlain since the league formed before last season, and the Cowboys (3-5-2, 1-1-2) are just a year removed from their second straight final four appearance.

“I think for our program it’s a signature win,” said Bulls coach Dave Wilson. “We beat Land O’ Lakes this year. We played well that game and Land O’ Lakes is still a very good team, but people didn’t see it as a signature win. Beating a Hillsborough County school that is always good, I mean this is a signature win.”

The Bulls dominated possession from the opening kick to the final whistle.

“We try and one and two touch all over the field, keeping shape and moving together and overlap our backs,” Dave said. “We really just clicked. Gaither plays more of a direct game than we do. They have some very dangerous players up top. We got some breaks early and they didn’t. That was the difference early on. They’re still a talented team.”

Wiregrass Ranch capitalized with a pair of goals in the first eight minutes, the opener by Sean Sourk and the second from Bryce Wilson.

“It changed the momentum in the beginning of the game to score those two goals,” said senior midfielder Robert Castillo, who assisted Sourk’s tally and added another after halftime. “Gaither is a good team, so to score first made us feel stronger.”

The Bulls looked just as dominant to start their district game against Freedom Nov. 27.

Wiregrass Ranch scored in the first 20 minutes and outplayed the Patriots throughout the first half, but Freedom connected for two late goals to win 2-1.

“The experience going through that Freedom game made us stronger,” Castillo said. “We couldn’t let them happen one more time. We had to stay 100 percent until the game is over.”

Senior defender Andres Hernandez helped create more offense by stopping a shot at an open net and sending the ball forward to Wilson, who found Jacob Spana for the Bulls third goal.

“They were keeping us on our toes, but we were doing a great job going from side to side and with communication,” Hernandez said. “We got them offside several times because we were in sync. That was one of the greatest things tonight was everyone was on the same page. We’d step and play it right to our midfielders, and they’d play it up top.”

Bryce added another goal 11 minutes after halftime for his seventh of the season and had two assists in the contest to extend his program record in a season to 20.

“This game was all about teamwork,” Bryce said. “We put a lot of good combinations together. We came out with high intensity, and it showed. … I think we knew that we could play with them. It was just a matter of putting everything together. Tonight we did.”

Spana scored again in the 74th minute, while Tristan Hart added a tally in the final seconds.

Dave said he was proud that his team closed out the contest strong.

“At practice we talked about somebody has to step up and say, ‘No more,’” Dave said. “We gave up a 2-0 lead at Mitchell and a 1-0 lead at Freedom. We were up 3-0 at Chamberlain, and it ended up 3-2. Someone needed to step up and say we’re not going to let down, and I think individually they each did that. We talked about that at halftime, and they responded really well.”

Dave also pointed out that several young players were forced into action in part because the Bulls were without a pair of starting defenders, Dakota Skipper and Doug Nolting, who missed the game because of family reasons.

“Maurice Lewis, he’s a freshman who’s never started before and played fantastic,” Dave said. “Felix Baldonato played up top, and that’s another freshman we got good minutes from, so did Brendon Duran.”

Wiregrass Ranch hosted Hudson Dec. 10, but results were not available by press time. The Bulls play at Pasco Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. before hosting 4A-8 rival Sickles Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Wiregrass Ranch girls soccer team locked up the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A-District 8 tournament with a 1-0 win over Gaither at home Dec. 7.

The victory ended a difficult week for the Bulls (11-1, 4-0), which included a 2-0 loss to Mitchell Dec. 3 and a 1-0 win at cross-town rival Wesley Chapel Dec. 6.

“We started the season off really well, but the last week has been a little rocky,” said senior midfielder Anne Cypriano. “We were a little worried if we were going to be able to get it, but I’m so happy we were able to pull through.”

Wiregrass Ranch coach Eddy Costa said the tough week was brought on by a combination of things, biggest among them injuries.

The Bulls have four starters playing through substantial injuries, including Cypriano (back) and defender Lauren Gorden (leg), while forward A.J. Blount (12 goals) has missed the last three games with a sprained knee.

Senior forward Berlin Waters said they tried not to focus on the fact that a victory would clinch the top district seed.

“We needed to just play our game and not get distracted,” Waters said. “After the loss and the 1-0 win last night we knew we had to really step it up because it’s Gaither. We knew we had to pick it up, try our hardest and not come home with a loss.”

Neither the Bulls nor the Cowboys (3-5-1, 2-2) gained significant advantage in possession or scoring attempts in the first half.

Then Waters broke through in the 52nd minute.

Lauren Luzzi fired a free kick from 25 yards out and hit a sprinting Waters for her 12th goal of the season.

“I know she has a good foot and we’ve been practicing free kicks, so was I thinking it would be a really good chance to score,” Waters said. “When she kicked it, I could see it coming; I judged where it was going, and it was just the perfect ball for me to get my head on it.”

The Bulls defense disrupted several last ditch efforts by the Cowboys to score.

“There was a lot of nervousness coming out with the girls saying, ‘We’ve got to win, we’ve got to win,’” Costa said. “My pep talk was let’s stay focused, stay calm and try to control the game by holding the ball. In the end, 1-0 is just as good as 10-0.”

Costa said the focus in recent practices has been defensive structure, not attacking.

“We’ve had girls like Vanessa (Jordan), Taylor (Muzik) and Berlin, who have scored a lot of goals early, and we’ve been a little bit in a slump,” Costa said. He added, “The philosophy tonight was if we score six but allow seven it doesn’t matter.”

Wiregrass Ranch started the week averaging six goals while allowing 0.4. The closer-than-usual nature of the last three games forced the defense to step up its play, but senior goalkeeper Dayton Wetherby said they have just as much confidence playing tight contests.

“If we go over defensive structure and focus on that during the game, then these types of games shouldn’t be that much pressure,” said Wetherby, who had five saves. “Just knowing that our shape should be able to help control that pressure makes it easier.”

Wiregrass Ranch traveled to Hudson Dec. 10, but results were not available by press time. The Bulls play at Pasco Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and at home against 4A-8 rival Sickles Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.