Wheeler, Rowdies beginning to find mark

When the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies first came together, the one thing people knew would take the longest to arrive was the team's chemistry in the attacking third of the field.

Now having scored eight goals in their last three games, all of them on the road, the Rowdies appear to have found the chemistry and confidence that could allow them to hit the back of the net consistently in the USSF Division II.

A big part of that has been forward Aaron Wheeler, who has put together three straight strong performances. That has helped propel the Rowdies into second place in the USL Conference entering their game against the NSC Minnesota Stars tonight at Steinbrenner Field tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The 6-foot-4 native of Baltimore scored in back-to-back games, including the game-winner against Carolina, and was a constant threat to add to his total against St. Louis in the Rowdies' last outing on Saturday.

Wheeler said getting his first goal, flicked in with his hip against the RailHawks, and backing it up with a second against the Austin Aztex has done his confidence a world of good.

"I just felt a whole lot of pressure come off my shoulders," Wheeler said. "Soccer I feel basically is about confidence. You're playing better when you're confident on the ball and not worried about making mistakes. Those two goals really helped me get my confidence back up."

Someone who has had great confidence in Wheeler since he signed with the team is Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish. After he scored 17 goals in 16 games last season for the USL Premier Development League's Reading Rage, there was some learning for Wheeler to do as he made the step to the next level. Recently, though, Dalglish has seen Wheeler's form improve exponentially.

"He's another one that's been fantastic for the last (few games), especially against St. Louis, he was absolutely fantastic," Dalglish said. "A real presence up there, won everything in the air."

As well as he has played, Wheeler is quick to point out his belief that the Rowdies' wingers have been the biggest boost to the team's recent form.

"Pascal (Millien) JJ (Adjeman-Pamboe), Long Tan, they've all just been a different class really of late," Wheeler said. "Beating defenders, making runs in behind, making sure we get balls in the box and service. That's really been the catalyst for our whole offense is how our wingers are playing."

But now he has found his confidence, Wheeler is proving a handful with a combination of size and surprising speed that has caught some of the defenders he faces off-guard. That was certainly the case against St. Louis, when a quick turn left opposing defender Tim Velten flat-footed and gave Wheeler a chance to bear down on goal. When Velten brought down Wheeler from behind before he could get his shot off, he was ejected, giving the Rowdies a man-advantage for the entire second half of the 3-0 victory.

"He makes defenders defend," Dalglish said. "Even the times when he knocks the ball past defenders, people don't realize how quick he is."

Scoring on a breakaway or from a well-flighted cross from one of the Rowdies' wingers would be an enjoyable moment for Wheeler. But no matter how the goals come, whether from getting his body into areas where he's going to get punished by opponents or by firing a bullet in from 25 yards, he's just looking to add to his total.

"I don't care how it goes in," he said, "as long as it goes in."