Wildcats clinch No. 1 seed, on pace for first postseason
By Kyle LoJacono
Success isn’t something Wesley Chapel girls soccer is accustomed to.
The Wildcats won just 10 games the last five years while piling up 65 losses. Since the school opened in 1999 the program has no winning seasons or playoff berths. In fact, the current group has yet to taste victory in a district tournament.

So it’s an understatement to say the current Wesley Chapel squad is surprising the area this season. The Wildcats (7-9) have posted a 6-2 record in Class 3A-District 7 play, clinching the No. 1 seed in the district tournament for the first time in program history.
“This year is a lot different,” said junior midfielder Kelsey Bare, who has seven goals this season. “In the past we kind of had the mentality of we’re a losing team so it doesn’t matter, but now we actually win.”
Part of changing that mentality has been the presences of second-year coach Michelle Clark, who came from Sunlake where she coached track and was a soccer assistant.
“For the past few seasons they had the losing record, and they kind of got used to it,” Clark said. “It gets in your head, and you hear it sometimes from classmates about the losing. I think that was the biggest struggle to change the mindset, because you can teach anybody the basics. You can teach them how to play and how to play hard, but getting past that losing mentality was really hard.”
Senior midfielder Tess Gemberling, who has a team-high eight goals, gives a lot of the credit to Clark.
“I think the biggest change is the coach,” said Gemberling, who has been on the squad since her freshman year. “She actually put it in us that we could win when before we were pushed just to play. … Coach Clark brings a lot of spirit to the team. Even if we’re not playing well she can bring it out of us to win a game. I’m just happy we’ve got her here.”
Clark’s goal has been getting her team believing, but a couple of wins against district rival Zephyrhills cemented that confidence. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs 1-0, scoring in the final minutes to beat their east Pasco County neighbors for the first time ever.

For senior defender Taylor Doherty, it was their second victory against Zephyrhills that got her believing.
“We were down 0-2 and we came back and won 3-2,” said Doherty, who has played at Wesley Chapel the last four seasons. “In past years we wouldn’t have even come back from being down a goal, so that was big.”
The sweep of Zephyrhills was the first of three for the Wildcats against district opponents.
“We’ve beat Zephyrhills, Pasco and Sunlake each twice this year and Wesley Chapel had never beaten any of those teams before,” Clark said.
The Wildcats have piled up district wins, but still haven’t defeated Land O’ Lakes. The Gators (11-5-2) handed them their only two district losses this season, but strangely enough the central Pasco program and longtime coach Vicky King is a big reason for Wesley Chapel’s newfound success.
“They have a great team and I actually played for Vicky King,” Clark said. “I graduated from Land O’ Lakes in 1998 and I played for her for three years. That’s always been a wonderful program. Vicky has been a mentor of mine and I look up to her in how she coaches and how she leads her team. She makes them like a family and I think learning from her has helped me a lot.”

The Gators have secured the No. 2 seed for the 3A-7 district tournament, meaning they would meet the Wildcats for the district championship provided both squads win their first game in the event. Clark said it will take the whole team if they want to raise their first banner.
“We have to continue to have a strong defense, and we have to finish goals,” Clark said. “When we have opportunities we have to take advantage. A goal can change the game instantly. The other thing is we need to keep playing together. They don’t all have to be best friends, but when they’re on the field they’re going to work hard for each other.”
Doherty added, “This year it’s always about being there for your teammates. Our forwards come back and play defense and we’re playing together. I don’t know why, but these girls are just coming together.”
Next up for Wesley Chapel is the 3A-7 tournament at Zephyrhills Jan. 17-20.
The Wildcats play in the semifinals on Wednesday, Jan. 18 against the winner of the contest between Sunlake and Pasco. Wesley Chapel would clinch its first postseason appearance with a win in the semis.
The district championship is on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., but even if the contest doesn’t include the Wildcats Clark still sees a program ready to continue winning.
“It’s exciting and I hope it continues over the next few years,” Clark said. “This is only the beginning.”
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