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Sever's Goal Enough To Put Tampa Prep Boys In State Final

Photo by Scott Purks.

Tampa Prep midfielder Anthony Baumann (10, red jersey), fights for the ball against Orangewood Christian midfielder J.P. Rutledge during Thursday's Class 2A state semifinals match at Lockhart Stadium.

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By BILL WARD, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 15, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE - To win a state championship in soccer, Tampa Prep's boys have shown you don't need to score a lot of goals - just a few magical ones.

In Thursday's Class 2A state semifinal match against Maitland Orangewood Christian, it was Terrapins striker Wes Sever. The sophomore standout took a cross just inside the box from freshman forward Jake Peterson and struck it on the volley to the right post for the game's lone goal.

Tampa Prep had several other chances and, for the most part, had the better run of play. But without Sever's finish in the 32nd minute, the Terps wouldn't be in the hunt for their third state title in four years.

"That's absolutely the kind of goal you need at this stage," said Tampa Prep senior midfielder Ryan Griffin. "Wes Sever has been huge for us all year, and he did it again tonight."

Sever's team-leading 36th goal of the season propels the Terps (26-2-2) into Saturday's title game against Jacksonville Providence, which needed penalty kicks to get past Delray Beach American Heritage 3-2 in the other semifinal. Tampa Prep will be trying to defend its crown from 2007, when it won its final two matches here at Lockhart Stadium by the same 1-0 score.

The Rams end their season at 22-5-0. Just last week in the 2A girls state semifinals, Orangewood Christian was eliminated by eventual state champion Tampa Prep 5-3.

Led by sophomore midfielder Anthony Bauman and junior midfielder Alex Tuch, the Terps pressed forward and dominated early in the match. Just before the 20-minute water break, Tuch had two great shots, but Orangewood Christian goalkeeper Mark Price came up big each time, including one he tipped over the bar. Griffin also got a good look on a cross from Baumann, but his header sailed high just before halftime.

The Rams were particularly dangerous on the counter-attack, as well as a long free kick that forced Terps goalie Brad Sienkiewicz to come off his line and scramble for the ball.

Tampa Prep seemed to come out flat in the second half, and a lot of that probably had to do with the fact it led 1-0 and, to that point, had controlled the ball. But Orangewood Christian also sent players forward in search of an equalizer and put the Terps on their heels. In the 52nd minute, the Rams nearly tied the game on two shots on the same play. A free kick into the box was one-timed toward goal by Jean Carlos Rodriguez, and the shot was deflected to teammate Alan Gendreau just outside the 6-yard box, but his shot was saved by Sienkiewicz.

After that unnerving series, the Terps seemed to go into the bunker, putting their attack on hold to defend.

"I don't think we wanted to play that way in the second half, but I think it was a natural reaction," Tampa Prep coach Jose DaCosta said. "It's not something I like to see us do, especially that early, but I do think we're tough defensively and capable of defending a 1-0 lead when we need to."

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456 or wward@tampatrib.com

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