Soccer: Invitational can provide momentum

The Wharton Soccer Invitational is bigger and better than ever, and perhaps more importantly, it comes at the perfect time - the week before districts.

"This gives everybody a chance to sharpen up," Sickles boys coach Tony Calvo said. "I think it's going to be great for us because I think we're peaking at the right time."

Last year, it worked out well for the Gryphons, who followed a Wharton Invitational tournament championship with a district title and a strong run to the region final before losing.

"Last year, the tournament gave us more momentum," Calvo said.

Calvo added that players should beware of injuries and red cards and anything else that could hinder success going forward, but, he said, "Teams are going to get after it because there are going to be some great matchups."

The tournament begins Saturday with 16 Hillsborough County teams divided into four pools. Pool play includes two games on Saturday and another on Tuesday at the Temple Terrace soccer fields off U.S. 301.

Winners of each pool advance to Wednesday's semifinals at Wharton High, where the final will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Intriguing matchups on Saturday include Sickles vs. Bloomingdale at 11:30 a.m., Newsome vs. Jesuit at 1 p.m. and Berkeley Prep vs. Bloomingdale at 6:15 p.m.

"I look forward to playing teams like Bloomingdale and Berkeley Prep because they're great teams and we haven't had the chance to play them," Calvo said. "Playing games like that can only make you better."

Tournament favorite? Probably Jesuit, which has yet to lose to a Hillsborough County opponent.

After the Tigers, it's a close battle between Sickles, Steinbrenner, Gaither, Newsome, Bloomingdale, Berkeley Prep and Plant.

Captains key Gaither success

Gaither coach Trevor Scott took over the girls soccer program two seasons ago with lofty goals: going 10 straight without a loss, an undefeated regular season in districts and a top seed in the district tournament.

Done, done and done.

Scott is hoping to cross one more goal off a long list: a 2010-11 Class 5A-District 9 title.

Gaither (9-3-2) is the No. 1 seed in next week's district tournament, and the coach said much of the credit goes to his three senior captains: Carley Cepelak, Caity Chandler and Lauren Moore.

Moore, who leads the team with 12 goals, has been a leader for the team since Day 1, according to Scott, while Cepelak has come up big in district play for the Cowboys, helping the team control the midfield along with Moore.

Chandler has been a big lift to the offense in the second half of the season, as the forward has notched eight of her 10 goals since Dec. 1.

The Cowboys' third double-digit scorer is freshman Taylor Meek, who has 11 goals.

But, according to Scott, it is the team and not the individuals that has led to Gaither's success this season.

"Overall as a team we have jelled and these girls deserve a lot of credit for the time and hard work put into the season," Scott said. "In four words to describe the team I would say, 'You'll never walk alone.' "

Leto finds success in not-so-lofty goals

Leto's 0-13 season would be enough to frustrate most players and coaches, but Coach Erin Dafeldecker's approach has had the Falcons' bench cheering and smiling the entire season.

For Dafeldecker and her 20 players, most of whom had no playing experience prior to the season, it's about setting three simple goals each match and reaching those goals.

"We knew going in we needed to not have the goal of winning as much as the goal of improving," Dafeldecker said. "We set three little goals to meet each game.

"Whether it be connecting two or three passes, or something small. Whenever we reach that goal, the whole team cheers because that is success for us."

The challenge is something Dafeldecker said she and co-coach Jeanette Dyer thought might take some time to implement, but the team quickly responded and has stayed positive on and off the field all season.

"We wanted everyone to stay positive this year and that isn't always something a team can do after going down two or three goals in a match," Dafeldecker said. "It's all about the buy in. It's about getting them to buy what you are selling and we have played our game and met our goals and these girls have thrived doing that."