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Jesuit, East Lake Poised For Showdown

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

nmurray@tampatrib.com

Published: February 5, 2009

TAMPA - Normally, you'd expect a match between two nationally ranked teams to happen a little later than the opening round of the region playoffs. But Thursday night, East Lake - No. 20 in the ESPN Rise boys soccer Fab 50 - and Jesuit - No. 21 in the same poll - will meet.

Not that either coach is concerned. Both Jesuit's Bob Bauman and East Lake's Sergei Stopek expected to face each other at some point as both sides attempt to reach the state final four.

"Once you get past district, every game is a big game," Bauman said. "We figured we would probably meet East Lake at some point, we didn't know it would be at this point, but hopefully we'll be ready for it; it'll be a huge game tomorrow night."

East Lake (19-1-4) lost its first game of the season Friday against Palm Harbor University in the Class 5A-District 9 championship. Stopek said he thought his players were surprised by the Hurricanes, but he was pleased with the way they've reacted to the defeat.

"I don't think they expected Palm Harbor to play as hard as they did," Stopek said. "One thing I said to the kids was, 'You have to understand from this point on, you can go out there and do your best, and it might not be good enough against a team that plays the game of their life.'

"We're a very competitive team. When we go out there, we want to compete, we don't want anyone beating us and the fact that we lost was extremely disappointing. But at the same token, what was great about my kids was they came away saying, 'Yes, it was a loss, but there's a lot of positives that can be gained from it.' That's what my kids were saying, and when I heard them talking like that, I was extremely proud of them, extremely happy with what they were saying."
Jesuit (23-1-1) hasn't lost since falling to Wharton in the High School Soccer Invitational during the holiday period, and Bauman thinks the team took to heart the message he gave them before a 1-0 win against Berkeley Prep to open the second half of the season.

"I think as a team they've played with more energy and more intensity," Bauman said. "I think they've taken the words to heart in terms of what we discussed about our level of play and since that time we've played a lot harder. I think they understand the difference between playing the game and competing to win."

One factor that could play a role is Jesuit's artificial surface. East Lake hasn't played at Jesuit since the field was put down, and while Bauman thinks there may be a period of adjustment for the Eagles, it shouldn't take too long for them to adjust to the surface. Stopek agrees, and thinks the true bounce and speed of the turf may give his team a lift.

"I've got it into my kids' heads that we're a very fast team, and fast teams love turf," Stopek said. "We're a very skilled team, the surface is always going to give a true bounce, so we're going to love that. As long as we connect our passes, and use the speed of the ball, which will be quicker, it'll be an advantage."

Stopek adds that whoever wins on the field, there will be one guaranteed winner at the game.

"I think the fans are going to be extremely entertained," Stopek said. "You have two teams that have the same mind-set, and tomorrow night you're going to see two teams who'll see who wants it more, and I guarantee both teams are really going to want it."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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