By Kyle LoJacono
Two championships for Cici
Cici Gonzalez helped lead the Steinbrenner girls soccer team to the Class 4A state championship in 2011.
The results were the same this year, as the University of Tampa signee is wearing another state crown, but this time it was the FYSA U18 title with Tampa Bay United (TBU).
“It was very different than winning it in high school,” Gonzalez said. “In high school it was exciting, but with high school it’s the kids just in your area. With this it felt like a bigger accomplishment. … It was such a great feeling to be the best of such great teams.”
The victory also allows Gonzalez to end her senior year on a high note.
Steinbrenner was eliminated from the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) postseason in the regional semifinals in January.
Marley Opila, Gonzalez’s high school and club soccer teammate, said the state championship this year was closure.
“It was a really good time, especially for Cici because it was her last year,” said Opila, a junior. “It was extra special because we had that connection with high school.”
Defense, defense, defense
Tampa Bay United (TBU) earned the U18 girls FYSA state championship thanks in large part to its suffocating defense. TBU scored 100 goals while allowing only 23 in 35 contests, including 20 shutouts.
“Our goal scoring starts with our goalkeeper and our defending starts up front,” said Tampa Bay coach Jim Cote. “We defend as a team. There’s no one who’s exempt. If our forwards stop the other team and we only have to go 20 yards to score, why not?”
Emily Ball, a University of South Carolina signee, was a big part of the mentality, allowing less than 20 goals as the primary goalkeeper.
“The mentality is every time we step on the field we are not letting up a goal,” Ball said.
Midfielder/forward Marley Opila said having Ball in the net helped set the defensive tone.
“We never had to worry an ounce about Emily making a mistake,” Opila said.
Forward Cici Gonzalez added, “We have Emily Ball, and she’s a great goalie and kept everything out of the net when things got iffy. Our defense was tight, and just really overall we were a hard team to beat because we were good from back to front. Keeping the ball out of the net and the fact that we were able to put so many in the other net made us tough.”
Opila/Bubley get their title
Marley Opila and Lexy Bubley were on the 2011 Steinbrenner High girls soccer team that won the Class 4A state championship, but neither felt like winners.
Opila, a junior midfielder/forward, was unable to play in any game because she tore the ACL in her left knee the week before the season. Bubley, a defender who just graduated from Gaither High, suffered the same injury to her right knee just before the postseason that same year.
Both finally got to feel what it was like to be a state champion as part of Tampa Bay United’s run to the FYSA U18 girls title this year.
“It was so great,” said Opila, a Jacksonville University commit. “When you’re hurt and your team wins something like that, you don’t feel that special feeling like you should. When I got to touch the trophy, it was such a big accomplishment.”
Opila recorded an assist in the state finals off a corner kick during the first half against Coral Springs United Renegades
“I placed it right on someone’s head,” Opila said. “It bounced around and went in. … It was really exciting knowing that I led to us scoring a goal. It helped us get closer to a win.”
Tippett tastes the postseason
Taylor Tippett’s soccer skills earned her a scholarship with the University of South Florida, but the playoffs were something she never experienced during her four years on Carrollwood Day School’s team.
Everything changed this year for the midfielder while with the Tampa Bay United (TBU) U18 Girls Premier team. The squad not only made a deep playoff run, but hoisted the FYSA state title.
“It was the best feeling because this is my last year,” Tippett said. “We knew that if we were ever going to win a state title, this was a team that could do that.”
Tippett did make the FYSA final four two years ago with a U16 team, but she got her first state title in her final season of youth soccer.
“Because it’s my last year I’m going into college as a state champion,” Tippett said. “That really boosts you’re confidence. It’s just great to know all my years of hard work have paid off.”
