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FHSAA To Discontinue Boys Fall Soccer Playoffs

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By JARRRETT GUTHRIE and MATTHEW POSTINS, Tribune correspondents

Published: January 9, 2008

The FHSAA officially announced it will discontinue the boys fall soccer series because it could not meet the mandated 48 teams required to continue the series as set forth by the board of directors on Nov. 19. Only 37 teams responded to the survey put out by the FHSAA and indicated they would participate in fall soccer for 2008.

The FHSAA will continue to recognize fall soccer as a sport governed by the organization for the regular season, but a playoff series to crown a state champ will not be sponsored.

Seffner Christian soccer coach Mark Canterbury said Tuesday he sees the decision as a steppingstone that may prove positive in the long run for fall soccer.

"We will have fall soccer next school year," Canterbury said. "This is an opportunity for us to run our own state series.

"This could be a very good thing. Instead of just the four teams that get to compete at the end of the season, maybe we can set up a state cup that will allow every soccer team in the state to be eligible."

HEADMASTER'S CHALLENGE: This weekend marks the fifth annual Headmaster's Challenge between the winter sports teams of Berkeley Prep and Tampa Prep. This year's tournament will be hosted by Tampa Prep, with the current record of the event standing even at 2-2. Both boys and girls soccer will be competing in the event with games Saturday starting with the girls game at noon and the boys game at 1:45 p.m.

"This has become a great event for our schools," Tampa Prep girls soccer coach Pam Smith said. "The rivalry has gotten pretty heated in years past but I think recently it has just become something where both schools can come out and support each other."

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Several Hillsborough and Pasco county players were named to the all-tournament teams at the Soccer Field High School Invitational tournament last weekend.

In the Elite Bracket, which Jesuit won, two of their top players swept the superlative awards. Ali Van Gurp was named offensive MVP, while Greg Sasser was named defensive MVP. Josh Menendez earned all-tournament selection from Jesuit as well.

Other all-tournament picks in the Elite Bracket included Tampa Prep's Ryan Griffin and Wes Sever, and Sickles' Josh Bissen and Gil Davis.

In the Premier Bracket, champion Land O' Lakes swept offensive (Dominic Cutrofello) and defensive (Alex Spock) MVP awards.

Alonso's Julio Perez and Nick Hall, Freedom's Deion Jones and Bobby Huertas and Gaither's Brendan Howard were also all-tournament picks in the Premier Bracket.

SUPER IN THE SHOOTOUT: Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger had his players begin practicing shootouts before the Christmas break and it paid off at last weekend's Soccer Field High School Invitational.

Freedom beat River Ridge in a shootout to claim second place in its pool and advance to Saturday's bracket play. The Patriots then topped Gulf Breeze in a shootout to claim seventh place in the Premier Bracket.

Shootouts become a critical part of high school soccer once district tournaments begin in a few weeks and Derflinger knows it all too well.

HEALTHY AGAIN: Gaither finished third in the Premier Bracket of the Soccer Field Invitational, losing only to champion Land O' Lakes.

The tournament also marked the return of Howard and Stephen Tobon, both of whom had missed time due to injury. They had key roles in the Cowboys' run to the third-place trophy, according to Coach Eric Sims.

Keyword: Hillsborough Report, for a report from Tuesday's Wharton at Plant girls soccer match.

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