By Jeff Odom
The Gaither girls soccer team made a run to the regional finals two years ago, and this year’s group is confident it can go far.
Despite losing their top scorer Taylor Meek (12 goals, two assists), who transferred to Mitchell in New Port Richey before the season, the Cowboys return junior goalkeeper Amanda High and senior defender Angela Andersen, both of whom played on that playoff team.
Andersen said despite the strength of top-tier district opponents like Steinbrenner, Freedom and Wiregrass Ranch, the team believes it can capture the magic of 2010-11 and surprise a lot of people.
“We are a close team,” Andersen said. “We’re not intimidated by (our district). The underclassmen have been working really hard to fill (Meek’s) void, but they’ve been playing well. … We’re just trying to get a fit, and I think we’ll be pretty good.”
One team the Cowboys have had their eye on is three-time district and 2011 state champion Steinbrenner, the same squad that knocked Gaither out of playoff contention in the Class 4A-District 8 semifinals last season.
High said beating the Warriors would be a tremendous boost to the squad’s morale. She added, the Cowboys could make a run past districts.
“Steinbrenner, definitely,” High said. “We’re pretty close (to them). We’re putting out our best effort to work hard to get ready and get physically fit. We want to get to states.”
Gaither coach Trevor Scott isn’t thinking that far ahead.
“I’d like to win districts first before regionals or states,” Scott joked.
He added, it will not only take consistency and talent to build a program back to the 2010-11 level again, but also team chemistry.
“The thing about that team that went to regionals is they gelled together,” Scott said. “If the girls gel, they can get anywhere. We have a strong core group of girls, and I think if we can sneak up on everyone then they’ll see that we have quality girls. … I don’t mind them overlooking us.”
Gaither opens the season at home against Alonso Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. The 4A-8 tournament is at Steinbrenner Jan. 15 to 18, with the final Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
