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Key Injuries Plaguing Zephyrhills Girls

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 10, 2008

The injury bug has hit Zephyrhills' girls team hard and Coach Mike Mira isn't happy about how it happened.

Center midfielder and team captain Laurren McLeod was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in her left knee. McLeod had scored three goals in the Bulldogs' first 10 games and, more importantly, had 21 assists.

Without McLeod, Zephyrhills' offense has "all but come to a complete stop," Mira said.

After making adjustments to replace McLeod, the Bulldogs lost three additional players Monday night against Springstead - all with serious ankle and knee injuries, according to Mira.

"Springstead also lost two players Monday night with ankle injuries," Mira said. "The officiating has been horrible this year, which is evident by all the injuries and the way they are happening. They had no effect on the outcome of the game but Springstead coach Polo Furlong and I both agree the lack of control did lead to several injuries."

Since McLeod's injury, the Bulldogs have scored only one goal and have lost two of their last three games. Brandi Mira continues to lead the area with 22 goals, but McLeod was a big contributor to those goals.

DANGEROUS FIELD: Despite a 3-0 win by Land O' Lakes at Brooksville Central last week, Gators coach Mark Pearson was not impressed with the playing surface at Central.

According to Pearson, the field was 15 to 20 feet narrower than Gator Stadium and at least 20 feet shorter.

"We wanted to establish that we can come here and play," Pearson said after the win. "We have to play here for districts, which is bothersome. I think this field is dangerous. This field is too small for kids this age to be playing on. That's why you have altercations. Everybody seems high-strung. It's just too small. It's barely minimum standard."

The Gators probably will be the top seed when the Class 5A-District 7 tournament begins the week of Jan. 26.

ADVERTISING PAYS: The Florida High School Athletic Association doesn't allow advertising on game uniforms, but doesn't have a rule about warm-ups or travel bags.

Knowing this, Pearson was able to get warm-ups for the varsity and junior varsity boys teams at Land O' Lakes, thanks to the Pain Institute of Tampa Bay and Edgar Ramirez-Pagan, a specialist in pain management.

"My brother-in-law is Edgar Ramirez-Pagan and he bought these warm-ups last year and donated a lot of money to the program," Pearson said. "I told him we would give him some advertising in that regard."

Pearson said the soccer program doesn't get any money from the school or the county for uniforms.

"We're completely self-sufficient here," he said. "Everything we have on and wear is raised by the players ... and has been for the last decade. We have to have a budget somehow and what I ask the guys to do is bring money."

The Pain Institute logo is on the back of the warm-ups.

BELATED CONGRATS: Gulf girls coach Shari Schau won her 100th game Nov. 24 with a 2-1 victory against Nature Coast.

The win was impressive for the Bucs as they, too, have been hit with injuries. The last two games (2-1 loss to Springstead and 5-0 win against Sunlake), Gulf has had only 12 players dress for varsity because of illnesses and injuries.

"But the kids have done a nice job considering we lost nine seniors last year - seven of them starters," Schau said.

After beating Sunlake on Monday, Gulf is 6-3-3 overall and 5-2-3 in 4A-District 8.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Gulf's boys have a couple of big games this week, beginning tonight at Mitchell in a battle of undefeated Sunshine Athletic Conference teams. On Friday, the Bucs host Hudson in a key 4A-8 contest.

In 5A-7, River Ridge is at Ridgewood tonight, while Wesley Chapel is at Land O' Lakes. This district looks like it will be a battle for second behind the Gators.

On the girls side, there are five teams battling for the 4A-8 top seed (and opening-round bye in the tournament). Hudson leads the district at 8-0-1, followed by Springstead (6-2-2), Zephyrhills (6-3-1), Gulf (5-2-3) and Nature Coast (5-2-3). Springstead travels to Zephyrhills tonight, and Gulf is at Hudson on Friday.

In a big Sunshine Athletic Conference match, River Ridge (5-0 SAC) travels to Mitchell (4-0) on Friday.

Keyword, Prep Sports, for up-to-date statistics and standings as provided by MaxPreps.com. Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@

gmail.com.

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