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GIRLS SOCCER REGION FINALS PREVIEW

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2009

All games Friday at 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A-REGION 3

Bradenton St. Stephen's (14-2-1)

at Tampa Prep (17-3-2)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Midfielders Taylor Richardson and Megan Wall along with Paige Goodwin, all seniors, anchor a young Tampa Prep lineup and were key members of the Terrapins' state champion team in 2008. Both midfielders have contributed double-digit assists this season, with Richardson notching 18 and Wall 19, while Richardson has scored 11 goals. Goodwin was hampered most of the season recovering from knee surgery, but she is coming on strong at the right time with five goals in the playoffs. She scored twice in the Terrapins' 6-0 region semifinal win against Indian Rocks.

The Terrapins defeated St. Stephen's 2-0 on Jan. 14 in the teams' only regular-season meeting. Richardson scored both Tampa Prep goals in that match, while Wall earned an assist.

CLASS 3A-REGION 3

Berkeley Prep (19-3-2) at

Boca Raton St. Andrew's (15-3-1)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Buccaneers are a young team, with only three seniors, but most of the team has been playing together since eighth grade. Junior midfielder Taylor Batye scored two goals in Berkeley Prep's 3-1 region semifinal win against St. Petersburg Catholic on Tuesday night, giving her 12 goals on the season. Junior forward Samantha Newhaller also has 12 goals for the Buccaneers. However, the biggest threat for Berkeley may come from sophomore Taylor Richardson, who has 27 goals this year despite starting almost every match as the defensive stopper.

St. Andrew's advanced to the region final, defeating Pope John Paul II, 8-1, behind four goals by forward Laura Weinberg, the Scots' leading scorer. Weinberg left the match with a shoulder injury in the second half.

CLASS 5A-REGION 2

Lakeland George Jenkins (24-0-1)

at Newsome (23-3-1)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This will be the third straight year Jenkins and Newsome will face off in the 5A playoffs, with the Wolves winning in 2007 and eventually advancing to the state final four, and Jenkins winning in 2008 on its way to a state championship.

The Wolves are led by senior midfielder Ana Cate, who has turned up her already aggressive play late in the season and knocked in the decider for Newsome in its 2-0 region semifinal win against River Ridge. Sophomore Karina Gutsche has 22 goals on the season for the Wolves.

Jenkins is undefeated and earned a tough 3-2 win in the region semifinals against rival Winter Haven. The Wolves defeated Winter Haven 8-0 earlier in the year at the Sarasota Holiday Classic.

CLASS 6A-REGION 2

East Bay (13-3-2) at

Melbourne (20-0-1)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Indians junior forward Brittany Cox notched a hat trick in East Bay's 6-2 win against Alonso on Tuesday. Cox gave Indians fans a few breathless moments when she spent some time on the ground after a collision in the first half. Cox, however, recovered to score three goals for the Indians, giving her 26 on the season.

Undefeated Melbourne advanced to the region final by defeating Orlando Olympia 4-1. The Bulldogs trailed early but used two goals from forward and leading scorer Nicole DiPerna to defeat Olympia. Jessica Bartlett had two assists in the match.

Jarrett Guthrie

GIRLS SOCCER REGION FINALS PREVIEW

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