By Kyle LoJacono
North Hillsborough County is quickly becoming a power in high school girls soccer and the rest of the state is starting to take notice.
Steinbrenner High girls soccer players Marley Opila and Alexis Bredeau recently returned home after a week of training with the Florida Olympic Developmental Team. They were joined by future Warriors Danielle Eule and Stephanie Hirsch, giving the new school four of the 30 girls on the team.
The top 30 girls born in 1995 were selected to the state team. The training was at the University of Montevallo in Alabama with other teams from the southeastern United States.
“There was a lot of good competition,” Bredeau said. “I got to see how other people play and learn from different coaches who see other things on the field. The other players were really good and it really pushed me to do my best. It was a good little trip I had.”
Opila was amazed by how talented the other players were.
“It was fun to get to play against players from other states,” Opila said. “The talent level was incredible. I couldn’t believe how good some of the players were. It was a great experience.”
Both Opila and Bredeau were in Alabama for five days and returned July 10. The training with the team also included two weekends in Auburndale.
Neither of the two was selected to the Southeast Regional team, but that has not dampened their spirits.
“I want to play professional soccer, so this was a great way to play against some of the best players,” Opila said. “I’ll be able to use the things I’ve learned for years and it (has made) me and Alexis better.”
Bredeau also said she wants to play soccer professionally. Opila and Bredeau will be sophomores next season.
Joining the two was incoming freshman Hirsch and Eule, sophomore, has transferred from Alonso High for academic reasons, according to Warriors coach Teresa Patterson.
“It’s really exciting to have that many athletes on our team,” Patterson said. “They’re all naturally gifted soccer players, but they are some of the hardest workers too. It’s basically the highest level for a player at their age and it speaks for what our program has been able to do in just a year.”
Patterson has been coaching soccer for about 20 years and said she has had a few athletes make such state teams in the past. The Florida team is part of the feeder system for the U.S. women’s national team.
“It’s something special and they should be very proud, all four of them,” Patterson said. “They got to play with the best girls their age and it’ll help them in the future. I’m looking forward to what we can do next season and all four players can try out for the squad again next season.”
Steinbrenner opened last fall and the team went 17-1-2, winning the Class 4A, District 10 championship. It was the second district title in Warriors sports history and the young squad also had the first playoff win by defeating Palmetto High. The season did not end the way the Warriors wanted as their first loss ended their season when they fell to Lakewood Ranch High.
Both girls play midfield and had more than 15 goals and assists in the Warriors’ initial season. Bredeau had the second most goals with 23 and added 17 assists. Opila was tied for the second most assists with 17 and also contributed 16 goals.
“That loss has really made me work harder this summer,” Bredeau said. “I’ve been running five miles a day so that I can go the whole game without stopping … I think we’re going to be tough to beat because now we have another year of experience and more good players coming in. We want to win districts again, get to states and win the first state championship in Steinbrenner High School history.”
