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Youth Sports Notebook: RSL Hopes To Learn From Regionals
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Published: June 26, 2008
RSL Florida's 'girls under-16 team became the first in the club's history to advance out of the group stages at the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships, but could go no further as it fell 3-0 to the AFC Lightning from Atlanta in the quarterfinals.
The Lightning opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game on a goal from a penalty kick, and doubled their lead less than a minute into the second half before adding a late third to advance to the semifinals. Despite the defeat, RSL coach Jim Cote said he thought the team performed well against a strong side.
"We played well, it was just one of those days when it wasn't going to be our day," Cote said. "They were a very good team, and you can't give away two goals like that and put yourself in that kind of hole against a quality, top-five team in the region."
Cote added that he saw great progress from the team that a season ago was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Florida State Cup. With the confidence the team has developed, Cote said he expects bigger things from the group as they enter their under-17 season.
"I think the big thing is they have a level of belief, a true belief that they can win any time they play," Cote said. "Last year when we lost to First Coast in the [State Cup quarterfinals], they were thought of as the best team in Florida, and we'd never beaten them. After that game we felt that if we'd play them again, we'd beat them, and [it was] the same thing [Monday]. We played an AFC Lightning team, we didn't play our best but we were still competitive. I think they walked away yesterday thinking 'We can play with anybody in the country,' and I think that motivation is going to pull them through."
RSL's current under-17 team and its under-19 squad weren't able to advance from their group stage, and neither was Hillsborough County United's boys under-19 team. HCU coach Eric Sims was disappointed he was unable to take a full squad to the tournament, with injuries to some players and one former U.S. under-17 national team player, Jeremy Hall, being held out by his University of Maryland coach.
"They had always wanted to get back to regionals," Sims said. "Then when we went up at the beginning it looked like we were going to be taking 18 players and then Jeremy Hall's coach said he couldn't go, we had a couple of other guys who came with injuries the week before, so we only had 13 field players and two goalies."
The HCU team will stay together, and is now in the middle of trying to qualify for the United Soccer League's Super-20 North American Championships, which are to be held in Virginia Beach at the end of July.
The USL Super-Y League is also next on the agenda for RSL Florida's teams, but Cote said the under-16 and under-17 teams, who will combine for the competition, will get some time off before they get back on the field. With their next game scheduled for July 12, Cote thinks the break will help freshen up the players a little.
"We've got a couple of weeks off," Cote said. "I think it'll help them get their legs back underneath them and get some vacation."
Keystone Thrilled By Baseball Victory
Keystone Little League won the first Tapi Rodriguez District 6 Tournament of Champions baseball title in its eight-year history with a 15-4 win against West Tampa Little League in the final.
Keystone went through the double-elimination tournament undefeated, and Manager Gary Haight said the accomplishment meant a lot to him and his team.
"The league's been in existence since the year 2000," Haight said. "I know the girls have had some success on the softball side, but it was nice to finally see a group of ballplayers that had pretty much been playing together for the last five or six years, accomplish what is the ultimate goal, to win the city title."
While Palma Ceia continued its run of success at the TOC, winning the three other baseball titles, Keystone's development was also reflected in the Minor, Major and Junior tournaments, with Keystone teams reaching the finals in those three as well as winning the senior title. Haight said he thought the growth in Northwest Tampa around the Keystone facility at the Ed Radice Sports Complex has helped the teams develop thanks to the additional players now playing there.
"The Keystone/Citrus Park [Little League] used to be combined into one program, and when they split up eight years ago I think a lot of the talent got diluted," Haight said. "Citrus Park has had success in the past because they draw a lot of talent from the Carrollwood area, but as the Citrus Park and Odessa area continues to grow out, I think that's where Keystone has been developing some solid talent."
Next up for the Seniors is the All-Star tournament, which begins July 8. Haight said he is expecting his TOC team to stay intact, and hopes they can make a run at an All-Star district title, and even beyond.
"We're a young team," Haight said. "We hope that we are equally successful at the All-Star tournament, and then take it even further than that at region."
Tampa Bay Juniors Set For Junior Olympics
With three teams competing for Open Division National titles, and another competing for a Club Championship, the Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball program is feeling prepared for a big week of competition, starting this weekend.
Juniors Director of Coaches Randy Dagostino, who will lead the girls under-15 teams and the boys under-14 team in their open division competition, says the teams are ready to get back on the court in competitive play. The teams haven't done anything different to prepare, but the twice-daily practices have the teams ready for some opposition other than each other.
"There's really no different preparation," Dagostino said. "We're just trying to get the number of reps we feel are possible to get, and try to keep everybody healthy while working hard."
"The kids are starting to get tired of practicing, and they just want to get after it a little bit at a tournament. I know that's how I'm feeling too. You have to practice a lot, but at the same time you're interested in going to the event and seeing how you can do."
The Juniors under-16 squad, which includes Tribune All-County first team members Lindsay Young and Maddie Martin, won the under-15 club division a year ago. The under-15s will play in the open division this year, after competing in the club division last year, and Dagostino says they aren't putting any expectations on the squad.
"There really are no expectations," Dagostino said. "This is a group that has been together for a couple of years now, and last year they weren't able to get into the open division, they tried hard but fell short, and this year they got in, and now we just want to see how we can fend for ourselves in the tougher division. Of course, the under-16s won the club division last year, so we think they can do pretty good."
Reporter Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 or nmurray@tampatrib.com.
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