Soccer: Wharton tourney provdes good tuneup

TAMPA 'The Wharton Invitational arrives a little later than usual in the season schedule when it begins Saturday, but the 16-team tournament should provide an excellent chance for teams to get ready for the district tournaments that come the following week.

"I think it's a good tuneup just before the district playoffs begin," Wharton coach and tournament organizer Scott Ware said. "It's going to be key to get some good quality matches, some good quality opponents, that's a good way to gauge your team right at the end of the season before you get into the playoffs."

In the field this season is Land O' Lakes, which becomes the first non-Hillsborough County side to play in the event, and while the Hurricane Watch tournament has been going on in Pinellas County this week, Ware also said he would like to extend invitations to some of the top schools in Pinellas to also take part, upping the quality level of the tournament as a whole.

Sickles coach Tony Calvo said his side was excited to be back at the tournament again, and was hoping to continue the progression the Gryphons have made at the tournament in the past two seasons. Two years ago, the Gryphons were eliminated in the semifinals, and then last year they fell to Durant in the final.

"We've been in the tournament for the last three years since I've been here, and in the last two years we've been to the final last year and the year before we lost in the semis," Calvo said. "Maybe this is the year where we can actually win the tournament."

Steinbrenner girls on verge of history

Friday night, the Steinbrenner girls soccer team travels to Strawberry Crest and looks to complete a seldom-seen feat. The first-year Warriors program will take on a Chargers team it defeated on Dec. 9, 8-0, with a chance to finish the regular season undefeated.

Steinbrenner (13-0-2) has had an outstanding first season outscoring opponents, 84-4, while notching 11 shutouts and allowing only one goal (in a 7-1 win against Robinson) in district play.

The Warriors are led by a quick and aggressive offensive attack as 15 players have scored at least one goal. Sophomore Cici Gonzalez leads the team in scoring with 21 goals and 17 assists.

The Warriors also have had a lot of help on the scoreboard from a total of five players with at least five goals and five assists each, including Alexis Bredeau (16 goals, 11 assists), Taylor Valley (14 goals, 15 assists), Marley Opila (nine goals, 10 assists) and Kelsey Huntzinger (five goals, five assists).

The regular season for the Warriors started slow with a 1-1 tie at Gaither, but Steinbrenner followed the draw with nine straight shutouts. The only other tie came during that time in 0-0 draw against Freedom.

"It's kind of been surprising because I don't think anyone expected things to go this well," junior center midfielder Marissa Maries said. "We wanted to find a point to start from for next year or the year after that."

"It kind of blew us away and after like six games we were all thinking that this was really happening."

Steinbrenner also earned a tournament title in the Premiere Bracket of the Sarasota Holiday Classic, defeating four teams including Dade Christian 3-1 in the tournament final.

The Warriors' undefeated streak this season also surprised Coach Teresa Patterson, who credits her team's strong connection through club soccer with its ability to come together in a hurry along with starting five juniors.

"I don't think if you ask any coach they are going to say they'll go undefeated in any year, let alone the program's first season," Patterson said. "I just wanted us to get better each time we step out on the field."

Friday's match against Strawberry Crest is that next step for the Warriors along with next week's district, where Steinbrenner is the No..1 seed and clear favorite.

Berkeley boys hitting the road

While this weekend's boys schedule pits Jesuit against Clearwater Central Catholic and Tampa Prep versus Tampa Catholic, Berkeley Prep's boys are going a little farther for competition.

The Buccaneers will head to Jacksonville to face Episcopal on Friday night before getting a rematch of last season's Class 3A state final against Bolles on Saturday.

With the side having rediscovered its form since the return from the holiday break, the Buccaneers are eager to continue their momentum.

"I've been telling the boys all year we have a very good team here, we just have to put it together," Coach Tim Cooper said.