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Boys Soccer: Berkeley 1 Win From State Semis

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By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: February 11, 2009

TAMPA - After watching his squad roll to a 6-0 victory on the road against Fort Myers Bishop Verot on Tuesday, Berkeley Prep coach Tim Cooper had to admit the Buccaneers are playing some outstanding soccer.

Berkeley's boys not only won big in a hostile environment, they posted the lopsided victory under the pressure of the Class 3A regional semifinals. The Bucs, who are ranked No. 43 nationally by an ESPN poll, are now just one step away from its first appearance in the state final four in five years.

"The most important thing is we're playing well as a team and spreading the ball around," said Cooper, who is in his third season as the Bucs' coach. "There isn't just one guy you can mark with us.

"Since districts started, T.J. Roehn has just turned it on but you also have to worry about J.D. Post, Eri [Jacobs], Kevin [Harvey] and Joey [Rosati] – there's a bunch of guys on our team that can put the ball in the back of the net.

Indeed, goal scoring has not been a problem this season. The Bucs are averaging nearly four goals per game. Tuesday against Bishop Verot, Roehn and Post each had two goals while Jacobs and Blake Evans each had one. Roehn leads the team with 24 goals while Post is close behind with 21. Jacobs, meanwhile, has netted 17.

As prolific as Berkeley Prep is on the scoring end, its defense has been stingy. Tuesday, senior goalkeeper Alex Jenkins faced a couple of early tests from Verot's strikers and saved each shot. He collected his seventh clean sheet of the season and maintained a goals against average under .700.

"We came out a little tentative and until we settled down and got that first score, Alex had to keep things in control for us," Cooper said. "If he hadn't and we gave up that first goal, the entire complexion of the game changes."

In front of Jenkins relies on defenders Matt Fellman and Zach Birch and freshman defender Mark Biddinger, and well as his senior brother, Steven Biddinger, who came in 25 minutes into the match to play stopper for the Bucs.

"Steven played fantastically," Cooper said. "Once he came in, I don't think they had any quality chances at a goal."

Next up for Berkeley is a regional finals date Friday at 7 p.m. against Boca Raton St. Andrews. The winner moves on to next week's final four at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium. Last year, the Bucs were knocked out of the state tournament in the regional final 2-1 by Melbourne Central Catholic.

"We're respectful of our opponent and, after what happened last year at this stage, respectful of the game we're playing in," Cooper said. "But I really believe that when we play the way we're capable of, we can play with anyone in the state."

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