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Bucs' Familiarity Breeds Success

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: February 19, 2009

TAMPA - If some of the players on Berkeley Prep's nationally ranked boys soccer team appear to know what the other one is going to do one or two passes ahead of the run of play, well, there's a good explanation for that.

Several of the Buccaneers - seniors Eri Jacobs, Matt Felman, Alex Jenkins and Joey Rosati, and juniors T.J. Roehn, Jake Felman and Jordan Tannenbaum - have played together since middle school, when they were part of an undefeated Berkeley squad of sixth- and seventh-graders.

Some also have been key players on a Tampa Knights club team (now RSL Florida) that won area titles and traveled overseas for prestigious tournaments. And many of them have gathered early in the morning during the preseason to play indoor soccer.

"Obviously, it builds a lot of chemistry and friendships," said Jenkins, the Bucs' senior goalkeeper. "When soccer season rolls around at school, soccer is all we talk about."

Since Class 3A Berkeley (26-2-2) advanced to this week's state high school tournament at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium, soccer has practically consumed their lives. When the Bucs open play Friday afternoon against Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, this will be something they've not only visualized doing all season, it will represent a goal they've had since they were pre-teens.

Yes, winning club tournaments are great experiences for any youth player. And it's at the club level where most players garner the attention of college coaches offering valuable scholarships. But just ask these guys what it means to win something for your school, a place this group has spent a good part of their lives together the past six or seven years.

"I think representing your school is more important than your club because these are guys I spend just about every single day with," Rosati said.

"And to have the support of your school behind you means a lot, too," Jake Felman said.

Then there's the rarity of this situation: playing for a state title in your own town.

"That may happen only once in your high school career," Tannenbaum said. "Some guys never get that chance."

And now that these Bucs' players have gone their separate ways to represent different clubs across the Tampa Bay area, this week's high school tournament holds even greater significance.

"Here, with these guys, I'm representing something a lot bigger than my club," Jacobs said. "These are my friends who I've grown up playing soccer, gone to school and talked about doing what we're doing right now for so long."

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached

at (813) 259-7456.

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