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Soccer Roundup: Gutsche Hat Trick Powers Newsome

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A Tribune staff report

Published: January 24, 2009

LITHIA - Newsome appears to be hitting its stride at just the right time.

Thanks to a hat trick by Karina Gutsche, the Wolves defeated rival Bloomingdale 3-0 for the Class 5A-District 8 title Friday night. The district title was the Wolves' second since they moved into 5A four seasons ago.

"This is really good for our team," Gutsche said. "Everyone has worked hard for it from Jackie Simpson to Ana Cate to Kendall Graham, we all worked for it."

The Wolves (21-3-1) took the lead in the fifth minute after a cross from the right by Ashley Evers wasn't cleared properly by the Bloomingdale defense. The ball came back to Evers, who cut the ball across the penalty area to an unmarked Gutsche, who drove her shot home.

Bloomingdale (13-3-2) continued to look nervous defensively, but almost tied the game 10 minutes later when Kara Buono's long throw-in was flicked on by Jordan Johnson to Michelle Beach, but Beach skied her half-volley over the crossbar.

Johnson also had a pair of left-footed shots, one saved by Newsome's Graham, the other going wide. At times, however, the Bulls' attack looked unfocused, with misguided long passes from defense and midfield surrendering possession easily to the Wolves as first Aileen Herrera and then Buono toiled alone in attack.

Gutsche doubled the Wolves' lead five minutes before halftime, as she latched onto a deft through-ball from Sam Simpson, and flicked her shot past advancing Bulls goalkeeper Cristina Coca.

Nicholas J.E. Murray

Sickles Edges Alonso In 6A-7

CLEARWATER - No. 3 seed Sickles outlasted No. 4 seed Alonso 1-0 at Countryside to win the Class 6A-District 7 girls soccer championship.

It appeared as though the two teams would go through the first half without a score. But sophomore Carly Keene drilled a shot from 35 yards out with 14 seconds remaining before the break. The Gryphons made the 1-0 halftime lead stand up.

Sickles (11-4-5) beat second-seeded St. Petersburg and Alonso (15-5-1) knocked off top-seeded Mitchell in overtime Wednesday.

The game was hotly contested throughout as the Hillsborough County rivals played a tough, physical style. Two players and one coach received yellow cards. The teams met once during the season, with Alonso winning 1-0.

Both goalkeepers turned in steady performances. Stephanie Bachtle had six saves for Sickles and Jessica Sedor had eight for Alonso.

"We are ecstatic," said Sickles coach George Arroyo. "The kids used every bit of energy they had and it was like the game we played against St. Petersburg. Alonso is a very good team."

Both teams advance to regional quarterfinals, with Sickles playing at home.

Mike Moore

Durant Prevails In 6A-8 Shootout

RIVERVIEW - Megan Fox played a big part in getting Durant through 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, and her strong play didn't end there.

The sophomore goalkeeper made two stops in the penalty-kick shootout and third-seeded Durant converted two of its five tries to defeat top seed East Bay 1-0 in the Class 6A-District 8 girls title game Friday night.

Fox made nine saves in 80 minutes of regulation and one more in 20 minutes of overtime.

"As normal, when Fox is on her game we're tough," Durant coach Dick Sheffield said. "They didn't get any lucky bounces, most of the shots were from the outside and she was handling them all."

East Bay finished with 20 shots, including several prime chances late in the second half and OT. A Durant foul in the penalty area gave East Bay a chance to win it on a penalty kick with 2:36 left in the second OT, but Meaghan Sandora's shot went high.

"The girls did everything possible," East Bay coach Claudine Sosa said. "We couldn't have gotten any closer than we did."

Leslie Knopp and Shaylyn Corgan made their penalty kicks in the tiebreaker. East Bay was 0-for-4.

Mark Pukalo

Berkeley Prep Takes 3A-9 Title

TAMPA - Berkeley Prep coach Ken Roberts was happy to accept the trophy, but he warned his girls not to get complacent, even after most of them took turns kissing it.

"This is just the beginning," Roberts said. "We have a long way to go."

Berkeley Prep dominated on offense in a 2-0 win against St. Petersburg Catholic on Friday at Holy Names in the Class 3A-District 9 title game. Taylor Batye scored both goals while goaltender Bryane Heaberlin was flawless.

Batye couldn't have done it without two perfect passes from forward Brooke Banning. Both goals were identical and came in the second half. Early in the second half, Banning sent a pass to Batye, who was open in the middle and had an easy score to give Berkeley Prep the lead.

With time running down, Berkeley Prep stole a pass at midfield and got the ball to Banning, who fed Batye for her second goal.

"I think we are ready to go really far," Batye said. "Brooke sent me some perfect lobs and it was easy. They were perfect and I just had to knock it in."

Jeff Berlinicke

Goodwin Scores 5 For Tampa Prep

TAMPA - With a full team finally on the field together, the Tampa Prep girls soccer team showed just how dominant it can be.

Senior forward Paige Goodwin scored five goals and the Terrapins held a commanding 18-1 shot advantage as Tampa Prep (14-3-2) claimed its fourth consecutive Class 2A-District 9 championship, 7-0 against visiting Bishop McLaughlin (10-4-2) on Friday.

"It's great to have Paige on the field, because she's such a leader," Tampa Prep coach Pam Smith said. "With her hard work, she makes everyone else work hard."

Goodwin scored 11 minutes in and then two minutes later from a tough angle along the goal line for a 2-0 lead.

Amber Miller finished with three assists, while teammate Megan Wall added two.

Chris Errington

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