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Tampa Prep Soccer Stays Unbeaten With 4-2 Victory

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 3, 2008

TAMPA - The combination of no practice for two weeks, temperatures in the 40s and a rare meeting with a crosstown rival all amounted to a serious scare for Tampa Prep on Day 1 of the Soccer Field Invitational at Ed Radice Sports Complex.

The Terrapins found themselves in a tie at halftime of their Elite Bracket Pool 1 match with Tampa Catholic. But a pair of second-half goals for senior midfielder Ryan Griffin sparked Tampa Prep to a 4-2 win (worth three points), and pushed its record to 14-0-1.

"We came out very, very rusty in the first half," Griffin said. "It also was probably the first cold game we've played all year."

Tampa Prep is set to play St. Petersburg today at 2 p.m., while the other 1-0 team in the pool, American Heritage, plays Tampa Catholic.

Hillsborough County teams were 7-1 on the first day of the tournament. Since Tampa Catholic's loss was to a Hillsborough team, the county still earned 20 out of a possible 21 points in seven games played.

Alonso picked up two points in Pool 1 of the Premier Bracket by beating Seminole 3-2 on penalty kicks. Neither team scored in regulation. Ravens goalkeeper Nick Hall stopped three of Seminole's last four penalty kicks. Seminole finished third in its bracket the past two years.

Freedom (11-2) shut out Bradenton Manatee 2-0 in Premier Bracket Pool 2, with goals by Ian Handley and Bobby Huertas.
Coach Dennis Derflinger was impressed by the Patriots' performance considering the weather conditions, which included strong winds that favored attacking the south end of each field.

"It definitely hurts you, especially when you play teams that rely on one key player," he said. "We're the kind of team that likes to work the ball up, and put things together."

The temperatures dropped considerably for the night games, but Berkeley Prep, Land O' Lakes and Jesuit posted shutouts. The Bucs beat Sarasota 1-0, the game-winner scored by Julian Crocket.

Jesuit, which beat Cape Coral Mariner 4-0, will not play today due to the absence of Melbourne Central Catholic, a late scratch from the tournament. That means only three teams will compete in Pool 4 of the Premier Bracket.

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