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Crusaders Set For Final Four

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

SEFFNER - Three years ago, Seffner Christian reached its first state fall soccer tournament, falling in the quarterfinals to the Community School of Naples.

This season, the Crusaders have taken the next step, beating CSN 2-1 on Tuesday, and they will play today in the state final four against defending state champion Lake Worth Trinity Christian. For the players who were freshmen the last time the team made the state playoffs, advancing to the final four has given them a great sense of achievement.

"It was awesome," senior Robert Bull said. "I feel like we have the best soccer team we've ever had."

Bull, Mark Sentovic, Ben Cock and Kyle Smallwood were all on the team four years ago, but the team will be missing Sentovic from the weekend's games with a knee injury he suffered against CSN.

"He's our big guy," Bull said. "He wins all the headers on throw-ins, corner kicks, and he's a necessity to our team, but I think we'll be able to work through it and be able to do pretty well without him. He'll be on the sideline cheering us on, so I think the team will want to win it for him.
Coach Mark Canterbury was glad to get a competitive game from CSN, and he thinks his team is peaking at the right time. Even though the Crusaders are traveling to face the state champions on the Warriors' home turf, Canterbury is confident the team won't be intimidated by the atmosphere.

"We know they're going to be a quality opponent," Canterbury said. "But I think that we definitely have the ability, we have the kids, there's no doubt we have the heart and desire to win the state tournament."

While that may be the case, how the team deals with being in the final four for the first time may be the difference in whether the team advances to Saturday's final. Canterbury understands his team will need to establish its rhythm early and play the possession game that has brought it success this season.

"I think No. 1, we need to go in with the mentality that we can win," Canterbury said. "The mentality that we can compete with the defending state champs. Secondly, we need to not get into a kick-and-run game with the team, we need to make sure we play our possession game, and that takes teamwork from everyone."

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