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Terrapins Ready For American Heritage

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE - The Tampa Prep girls soccer team talks a lot about desire and pointed to that as the reason why the Terrapins (25-1-1) were able to recover from a slow first half Thursday afternoon to dominate Maitland Orangewood Christian and advance to today's Class 2A state championship.

With that desire also has been confidence as the Terrapins have withstood challenge after challenge.

The next one is 31-0-0 Delray Beach American Heritage.

"I'm not that nervous," junior forward Paige Goodwin said. "I've never really seen them play. We're going to come out strong and they might be the better team but we want it more so we're going to see how far that takes us."

So far that has taken them further than any other Tampa Prep girls soccer team has gone. The Terrapins advanced to the state semis 12 years ago and lost to Orlando Bishop Moore.

"Last year we had a real good team we thought could make it to state and we didn't even make it to the regional finals," senior defender/midfielder Carrie Field said. "That was a big letdown so to get here and actually do this, it's awesome."

Part of the reason why the Terrapins have been so successful is their ability to identify problem areas.

Thursday, the first half exposed some problem areas that Tampa Prep was able to fix in the second half, but the Terrapins are aware they cannot give American Heritage that much time.

"In the first half, the other team was winning the ball before us so we definitely need to work on that and winning the ball out of the air," said senior forward Chelsea Klotz, who has 17 postseason goals including three against Orangewood. "So we need to work on that and set more of a tone."

In addition to all the firepower Tampa Prep's offense has, led by Klotz, Terrapins coach Pam Smith says her young defense also has made her proud.

And that defense is going to have to play well against American Heritage, whose bread and butter is offense.

American Heritage has allowed one goal since the regional semifinals and scored 20.

"I know they're nationally ranked No. 1," Smith said. "I don't want to know too much about them. We saw a little bit of them before the game Thursday and we saw a defensive battle. We'll come out and play our game. We can't play their game."

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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