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Hernando Today

Lady Eagles: the team to beat

GIRLS SOCCER

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 3, 2009

Thanks to the recent state-wide athletic reclassification by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), all four public school girls soccer programs have been resigned to new districts.
Here's a breakdown of each school.

Eagles: team to beat

Springstead High has captured 13 of the past 16 county championships. They've also reached  regionals (7) more than any other Hernando County program.
Yet after 18 seasons, where SHS has captured a county-best 69 percent of its matches, it has oddly never captured one regional playoff match. None.
That may change, however, this winter as Springstead was reassigned to 5A-7.
In a cozy four-team district, SHS faces Central, Ocala-West Port and Ocala-Forest.
Based on recent history on paper, Forest and Springstead should meet in the 5A-7 title game.
Why the optimism?
SHS returns nine starters from last year's 17-5-2 squad.
The Eagles were more of a defensive-minded unit last winter.
Offensively, SHS averaged only 2.1 goals per game (gpg) and permitted only 22 goals for an outstanding 1.0 gpg average.
Though Lisa Truncale graduated (No. 2 scorer with 12 goals, 3 assists), SHS returns its other top three scorers in Ashley Walker (12 goals, 11 assists), Alyson Brady (6 goals, 10 assists) and Cristina Passafaro (6 goals, 8 assists).
Plus, SHS has added out-of-state senior transfer Cally Quinn and talented freshman Tara Vasquez from North Carolina. Vasquez will be trust into the spotlight immediately as Walker rolled her ankle in last week's preseason classic and is expected to miss the first week of the regular season.
"Cally reminds me a lot of Angela (Passafaro)," explained SHS' fifth-year Head Coach Polo Furlong, who is six wins shy of surpassing John Bifulco as the county's winning-ever girls soccer mentor. "She's an all-around player and has tremendous skills. And she's a terrific student in the classroom; she's exactly what college recruiters would be looking for."
SHS goalkeeper Monica Vega (9 shutouts) returns between the pipes with tri-captain Kaitlyn Duke spearheading the defense in the back.
What does SHS need to concentrate on?
"We've got to work on communication," replied Furlong, who began the season with a 71-20-8 career slate at SHS. "We have older players and young players. The younger ones will have to learn how things are done at the varsity level."
And 5A-7?
"It's different," said Furlong. "We're going up in classification, so we should be facing tougher teams. It'll be a challenge. We're kinda the new kids on the 5A block.
"We can have a team of all-stars," cautioned Furlong. "But without the right chemistry it will be a long season."
 
Bears: cooking up a new approach
 
Central High's new culinary arts instructor, Jason Gray, brings in 17 years of  coaching at the club level in Virginia.
Unfortunately, he's never been a head coach at the prep level.
Gray replaces the popular Amy Ellis, who guided CHS fortunes for four seasons (29-40-10 overall).
More importantly, CHS graduated six starters including Ashley Custodio, Kady McCandless, Carlie Puglia, Angela Wooster, Taylor Kupcik, Andrea Kelliher.
Custodio, McCandless and Wooster were the team's top three scorers from last winter's team that only scored 20 goals in 20 matches.
Offensively, CHS has struggled of late. Across its past 35 losses in three season, 32 have come via shutouts.
Junior Alyx McKinney, who was the team's leading scorer in 2007-08 (4 goals, 5 assists) missed most of last winter due to an ACL injury, but is expected to take over the scoring burden.
She's expected to helped by a flock of incoming freshmen including: Karrissa DiMuccio, Kasey Kupcik and the Badger twins (Anna and Stephanie).
Defensively, former basketball player-turned-goalkeeper Brooke Wardlow is back between the pipes and Marissa Still is expected to direct traffic in the back for a unit that permitted 34 goals last season.
With the influx of so many new faces, Coach Gray hopes, "That the program grows. Hopefully, we'll be more competitive. I'd like us to finish .500 or better and I'm determined to put the best team on the field each night.
"My MO is communication and ball control," emphasized Coach Gray. "Without communication we can't do anything."
 
Sharks: new coach, fresh faces
 
From 2004-06, Lisa Brown was Nature Coast Technical's boys soccer coach. She finished 4-35-4 during that stretch before assisting Phil Bennett for the past three years with the NCT girls' program.
After Bennett relocated back to England, Brown was anointed head coach of a program that is 45-69-8 lifetime.
The Sharks are also minus a trio of three-year starters, Megan Jacobson, Brittany McDonald, Taylor Reiss, who graduated last May. Jacobsen, McDonald and Reiss ranked 2-3-4 last year in scoring.
The Sharks finished with 38 goals, the lowest production since their inaugural season since 2003-04 (29 goals)
Fortunately, the team's leading scorer, senior Danielle Doucet (9 goals, 3 assists) is back in the fold. She's expected to share the scoring burden with sophomore and returning starter Nicole Brennan and freshman McKenzie Davis.
What's the team's general outlook?
"We're depending on six seniors to bring the team together," shared Coach Brown. "I like to build from the defensive side first."
To that end, NCT will start Alicia Pierson between the pipes as goalkeeper.
District-wise, the Sharks are in the crowded and deep Class 4A, District 8 field.
"Our goal is to finish higher than last year," said Coach Brown f the Sharks' 8-8-4 campaign. "Based on the preseason reputation, I think Land O'Lakes, River Ridge and Lecanto will be near the top of the district."
 
Leopards: fresh faces abound
 
Good news is Hernando High was barely scratched by graduation last year.
Bad news is half the team is back from last year's 3-15-2 campaign. And the other half are freshmen.
The Purple and Gold is attempting to snap a five-year losing streak -- or since Kristi Mule guided HHS to back-to-back winning seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Mule is again an assistant to veteran skipper Rick Ahrens.
Ahrens returns five starters including goalkeeper Megan Platt and two vocal leaders in Sarah Wheldon and Brittany Parker.
In last week's preseason classic, HHS was edged by Anclote (2-1) and Wesley Chapel (2-0).
"I wasn't worried about the scores," explained Coach Ahrens on the importance of the classic matches. "It was more about working on formations and combinations."
Ahrens' freshman daughter, Delaney, is expected to push Platt for playing time between the frame.
Platt, a fine student, is taking college curriculum on Wednesday nights, and thus will not be available those nights. Thus, getting Delaney Ahrens seasoned is a must.
HHS, which hasn't scored more than 22 goals since 2004-05, will find only tough sledding in the nine-team Class 4A, District 8 field.
According to Coach Ahrens, "Our goal is not to play on Monday (Jan. 20). That's what I'm hoping for. Land O'Lakes is my district favorite. Coach (Vicky) King is a phenomenal coach. She's forgotten soccer more than I've ever coached."
 
Hernando County Girls Soccer Five-Year Snap Shot
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO
RK School  W L T .PCT
1. Springstead 85 33 9 .787
2. Central  45 47 13 .489
3. Nature Coast 40 52 12 .435
4. Hernando 18 75 6 .194
 
Hernando County Girls Soccer 10-Year Snap Shot
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO
RK School  W L T .PCT
1. Springstead 147 53 21 .735
2. Central  84 98 29 .462
3. *Nature Coast 45 69 8 .395
4 Hernando 48 128 19 .273
* Denotes six-year total.
 
AT A GLANCE
Central Bears 
Head Coach - Jason Gray (1st Year)
District - 5A-7.
Returning starters - Five.
Key returnees - Sam Berberette (11th), Alyx McKinney (11th), Marisa Still (11th), Brooke Wardlow (11th).
Key losses - Ashley Custodio, Kady McCandless, Carlie Puglia, Angela Wooster, Taylor Kupcik, Andrea Kelliher.
New Additions - Anna (9th) and Stephanie Badger (9th), Kasey Kupcik (9th), Karrissa DiMuccio (9th).
Outlook - CHS hasn't reached playoffs since 2004-05's 16-7-3 campaign. Gray is school's seventh coach in 17 years and is rebuilding with a roster top-heavy with freshmen. But in four-team 5A-7, all the Bears have to do is win one match in districts to advance to regionals.
 
Hernando Leopards
Head Coach - Rick Ahrens (11th Year: 60-122-21 lifetime)
District - 4A-8.
Returning starters - Lindsey McElroy (11th), Brittany Parker (12th), Megan Platt (11th), Hailey Royal (11th), Whitney Sims (11th), Sarah Wheldon (12th).
Key losses - No significant personnel losses from 3-15-2 squad in 2008-09.
New Additions - Ally Ambrose (9th), Ainsley Halliday (9th) and Ashley Sims (9th).
Outlook - The nine-team Class 4A, District 8 is loaded with traditional playoff heavyweights River Ridge (who is hosting districts), Land O'Lakes and Lecanto. According to Coach Ahrens, "Our goal is not to play on Monday (Jan. 20). That's what I'm hoping for. Land O'Lakes is my district favorite. Coach (Vicky) King is a phenomenal coach. She's forgotten more soccer than I've ever coached."
 
Nature Coast Technical Sharks
Head Coach - Lisa Brown (1st Year)
District - 4A-8.
Returning starters - Nicole Brennan (10th) Danielle Doucet (12th).
Key losses - Megan Jacobson, Brittany McDonald, Taylor Reiss.
New Additions - McKenzie Davis (9th), Paige Kuhn (10th - transferred from SHS).
Outlook - "Our goal is to finish higher than last year," said Coach Brown. "Based on the preseason reputation, I think Land O'Lakes, River Ridge and Lecanto will be near the top of the district."
 
Springstead Eagles
Head Coach - Polo Furlong (5th Year: 71-20-8 lifetime)
District - 5A-7.
Returning starters - Nine.
Key returnees - Ashley Walker (11th) , Cristina Passafaro (12th), Alyson Brady (11th).
Key losses - Lisa Truncale (graduated), Jacqueline Alexander (not playing).
New Additions - Cally Quinn (12th), Kara Vasquez (9th).
Outlook - SHS is experienced, deep and has a sprinkling of youth returning to a squad that captured 17 matches last winter in the rugged Class 4A, District 8. The Eagles, who have captured 13 of the past 16 county championships, even host the Jan. 20 5A-7 Tourney which bodes well for a return trip to regionals.

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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