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Rossi Has Grown Into A Dominant Scorer

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By CHRIS ERRINGTON Tribune correspondent

Published: January 1, 2008

Four years ago, a shy, timid Deana Rossi earned her first starting position for the River Ridge girls soccer team. Not many involved would have expected her and the team to come so far, so quickly.

Not surprisingly, none are complaining.

"She's much more confident now than when she first came out for the team," River Ridge coach Skip Glover said. "With age, we've become much more familiar with each other and now she's more of a vocal team leader.

"Overall, it's been fun to watch her grow up."

Glover has had the best view to watch Rossi transition from an unassuming freshman to one of Pasco County's most dominant scorers. In the process, River Ridge also has transformed into an area powerhouse.

Rossi is currently tied atop the county list with Zephyrhills junior Brandi Mira with 25 goals, as the Royal Knights have once again been nearly unstoppable. A season ago, River Ridge finished the regular season undefeated and is currently 12-1-1, its only blemish a 3-2 defeat at Mitchell last month.

But for Rossi and the Royal Knights, personal accolades always come second. Even with Rossi notching her 100th career goal earlier in the season and now, according to Glover, needing just one goal to tie the school record of 108 with four games remaining, River Ridge has much bigger goals in mind.

That's a direct product of consecutive seasons ending with disappointing first-round regional playoff losses.

"After the past two years, we need to get serious about the playoffs, because we want to get past where we've gone," Rossi said. "It's a big deal, it's our last chance.

"Still, it would be exciting to break the record," Rossi added. "I never came into the season thinking I could do something like this."

Surprisingly, after garnering so many accolades and attention from collegiate coaches, Glover said it wasn't until just recently that Rossi committed to playing soccer at the next level. The coach said he's been in contact with several Division I-AA and Division II schools who've expressed interest in the Royal Knights' unquestioned leader and Rossi acknowledged that she spoke with collegiate coaches this past week after playing in the Orange Classic - a tournament in the Miami area for travel teams.

"I'm definitely going to play somewhere, I'm just not sure yet," Rossi said of her college plans.

Then, just as quickly, the senior forward turns the subject back to the team and what's most important to them now - enjoying a much longer stay in the state playoffs.

"Coach always tells the seniors, 'It's our team. It's our year,'" she said. "We're the ones who have to go out and win these games."

Not surprisingly, after playing for and developing the skills that have made her a high school star under the tutelage of a veteran coach, the two have grown so accustomed to one another that even their thoughts tie together.

"The fact is, we have some good soccer players," Glover said. "Sometimes at this point of the season, the coaching is almost done.

"They know how to play. It's all up to them now."

Chris Errington can be reached at

cerrington@pop.tampatrib.com.

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