TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Soccer teams shift districts

ADVERTISEMENT

By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

The soccer season begins this month, with many of the area's top girls teams changing classes and districts. Here is a brief look at the Northeast area's top teams, Freedom and Wharton.

Freedom

Coach: Chris Hinkle
Last Season: 10-3-2 (Lost to Newsome in the 5A-8 district semifinals)

Outlook: The Patriots will have to fill a big void left by leading scorer Monique Lamotte, who had 15 goals and graduated last year. The Patriots had a deep run into the 5A-8 playoffs before being eliminated in postseason play by Newsome. This year, Freedom moves to 5A-9 and should be a strong force in the new district. The Patriots will need big things from senior Olivia Bloemke, who scored seven goals last season and was tied with a team-leading five assists. Hinkle said the team has depended in the past on Lamotte to come up with big plays, and hopes that consistency and experience will allow many players to have roles in this season's offense. Freedom returns 10 starters from last season and will have a good chance to lead its new district, but will have to contend with Gaither and Hillsborough.

One spot Hinkle said he is confident in is at keeper, where Emily Ball will serve as a leader for the defense. Ball was hampered last season by an ankle injury, but did see some playing time at the very end of the season. Hinkle said this is the first time in his three-year career as Freedom coach that the Patriots will enter the season with a goalkeeper who wants to be a keeper.

Wharton

Coach: Denis Vukorep

Last Season: 10-13-1 (Lost to Bloomingdale in the 5A-8 district semifinals)

Outlook: Wharton was much better than a 13-loss team last season in district 5A-8. The Wildcats will have to deal with the loss of last year's captains Kate Demick and Allison Meyer. Demick led the Wildcats with 13 goals and 13 assists. A surprise loss was the departure from the area of Tampa Tribune All-County goalkeeper Rachel Beninati, who moved and will not be with Wharton. Beninati had 114 saves last season, despite missing almost a month of the season with a broken collarbone.

The Wildcats will need to get a big lift from senior forward Shelby Million on offense and will need captain defender Emily Rodriguez to be a leader on defense.

The Wildcats will have Heather Montgomery in goal this season, and the sophomore should be ready as she had to step up with Beninati injured last season.

Wharton will leave a tough 5A-8 district to move, along with Bloomingdale, to 6A-8, where the Wildcats will have to deal with the Bulls and Plant, which may be one of the toughest teams in the county. Last season, however, the Wildcats played one of the area's toughest schedules and Vukorep thinks that prepared this year's team, with eight returning starters.

"We became a better team last year because we played the toughest teams," Vukorep said. "We didn't duck anyone and that has made this team stronger."

And the team looks to be carrying on its tough scheduling. Wharton is starting the year with its annual Wharton Invitational, and will open its season against an always tough Clearwater Central Catholic.

GIRLS SOCCER

Class 6A, District 8

Alonso

Bloomingdale

Brandon

Plant

Wharton

Class 5A, District 8

Armwood

Durant

East Bay

Newsome

Riverview

Tampa Bay Tech - coach, Jason Roberts; last season's record, 0-8

Class 5A, District 9

Chamberlain

Freedom

Gaither

Hillsborough

King - coach, Don Rooks; last season's record, 3-8

Leto

Sickles

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT