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Time Right For Alonso To Peak

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By MATTHEW POSTINS Tribune correspondent

Published: January 16, 2008

Alonso seemed to be peaking at just the right time.

The Ravens (21-5-2) are coming off a four-victory week in which they outscored their opponents 12-1. They spread their goals among seven different players, with leading scorer Julio Gomez notching three of them.

That breakneck week of games came after the Ravens played five matches in four days at the 14th annual Soccer Field High School Invitational to start the year. They played that tournament without their top three midfielders.

Coach Ray DiPompo warned his players after their final tournament match against Tallahassee Lincoln that the upcoming stretch was vital to their preparation for their district tournament next week.

"It comes up on us quick," DiPompo said after that 3-2 loss to Lincoln. "It's time to gear up. We have a half-dozen matches. We have a lot of work to do. If you are critical of your team, then we need to be more fit, we need better passing and we need to do some things better, like every other team. But I'm pleased. We did a good job."
Alonso faced another stiff test Tuesday, losing to Freedom, 3-2, in its regular-season finale.

BUILDING IT UP: Sickles coach Tony Calvo couldn't have been more pleased with his Gryphons after the Soccer Field Invitational two weeks ago.

The Gryphons pushed defending state champ Ponte Vedra Nease before losing 3-1, emerged from their pool in second place and eventually finished in eighth place in the Elite Bracket.

It might not sound like much, but this is only Calvo's second year as head coach and the Gryphons are a young outfit.

Eighteen of their 26 players are freshmen or sophomores.

"Last year was getting to know them," Calvo said. "This year I knew the freshmen who played most of last year would make progress. The program is coming. My biggest thing was to teach them discipline, hard work and to have fun. When you do that, you win."

The Gryphons received a bump from their tournament appearance. They won their last three matches entering Tuesday's game against Leto, improving to 8-6-5.

UNSUNG ON THE BACK ROW: Jesuit coach Bob Bauman makes sure to give senior defender Greg Sasser his due every chance he gets.

Sasser is a big reason Jesuit is Hillsborough County's No. 1 team and why the Tigers have 16 shutouts this season.

"Sasser's just been a rock," Bauman said. "Not only does he stop attacks, but he generates offense once he does. The other night against Mariner they came on a counter, he stripped the kid, took it 80 yards and served up a pass for a score. That was big on his part.

"He's probably gotten better and better every game. He's playing at a whole different level than last year."

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