Yamaguchi Leaves FSU To Turn Pro

Florida State University and head coach Mark Krikorian has announced that junior forward Mami Yamaguchi will forgo her senior season to pursue a professional soccer career.

Yamaguchi, the 2007 Hermann Trophy winner, has signed a contract to play with Umea IK of the All-Swedish League. Umea IK is a member of UEFA, the Union of European Football Association. Umea IK captured the UEFA Women’s Cup in -to-back seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

“We are thrilled for Mami,” stated Krikorian. “It has been a goal and dream hers to be a professional soccer player. In a way, I hope that Florida University has contributed to her success.”

Yamaguchi led the country in points (66) in 2007, while finishing second in goals (24) and assists (18). The Tokyo, Japan native was recognized as the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American.

The junior forward played a vital role in leading the Seminoles to the national championship game for the first time in school history. In the 2007 Tournament, she paced the Seminoles with three goals and eight assists. Her eight assists rank as both a single-season and an all-time postseason school record.

Following a record-breaking season for Yamaguchi, she ranked first all-time in career assists with 30 and sits second in points (94) and goals (32). She began the season registering a point in her first 10 games, while setting the school record by scoring at least one goal in seven consecutive games. Yamaguchi registered a point in 22 of 27 games for the Seminoles in 2007.

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Sharks Get First Win!

The Orlando Sharks made franchise history getting the first Major Indoor Soccer League win of their inaugural season in front of an elated crowd at the Amway Arena, beating the California Cougars 16-13. The win snapped a 16-game losing streak to open the 2007-08 season.

Dominating California from the opening kick, defenseman JP Rodrigues’ three- point goal with two minutes remaining sealed the win. Goal keeper Paul Nagy, had a career game, and was a key factor in the Sharks defensive success.

The victory hungry Sharks swam into the shark tank in attack mode as midfielder Miki Djerisilo struck first with a goal in the opening five minutes of play. The offense refused to let up as defender Bill Sedgewick capitalized on a hole in California’s defense scoring with less than three minutes remaining in the period. The quarter ended with the score Sharks 4 Cougars 0.

The Cougars roared back, as midfielder Marcelo Santos scored early in the second period. Orlando answered quickly as midfielder Eric Vasquez found the back of the net off a pass from forward Mauricio Ruiz. At the half, Orlando’s lead was 6 – 2. For the first time this season, Orlando’s halftime lead transferred into the third and final periods. California tried to come back with a score from midfielder Craig Scheer.

The Sharks lead was 11-6 at the end of three quarters. Cougar’s forward Enrique Tovar tied the game at 11 all, with five minutes left, but Sharks forward Damien Pottinger put Orlando back on top to stay. Though it was a nail-biter to the finish, the Orlando Sharks showed great character in holding the lead for their first win.

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Tampa Captures D-2 National Title

Tampa University has had a women’s soccer team for 10 years, and now the school has a national championship.

The Spartans captured the 2007 NCAA Division II title the hard way, beating five-time national champion Franklin Pierce College in a penalty kick shootout.

It prevented a sweep of national titles for Franklin Pierce, which defeated Lincoln Memorial (1-0) in the men’s title game. Both men’s and women’s championships were held in Orange Beach, AL, with the University of West Florida as the host.

With the game scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods, the Spartans took the shootout 3-1 to finish the year with a 19-2-4 record.
It marked the first ever double-overtime match in Division II women’s championship history and the first decided on penalties. It marked the third straight year the women’s final went to overtime.

“Even though it was a 0-0 tie, I thought it was an exciting game,” said Tampa’s first-year head coach Gerry Lucy, who defeated Franklin Pierce as head coach at West Chester (PA) University in last year’s quarterfinal round.

Tampa goalkeeper Shannon Aitken (Land O’ Lakes, FL) was perfect in goal, but the defense was strong and she was required to make only two saves. The shutout was the 14th of the season for Aitken, and she concluded her UT career with a school record 40. Aitken’s 59 career wins is also a UT record.

The shootout session needed just four shots for each team as UT took a 3-1 advantage. Franklin Pierce went first in the shootout, but Aitken turned away the first three kicks. Ashley Flateland (Fox Island, WA) clinched the championship for Tampa in the fourth round with a low shot to the left side.

“I just didn’t want to miss it,” said Flateland. “I was thinking about our keeper and I didn’t want to let her down. She had played so well. It’s a good feeling, but I am more proud of my defensive play.”

Flateland had been assigned to marking Franklin Pierce star Gabriela Demoner and she shut her down.

Tampa also won a shootout in the quarterfinals, again 3-1, to knock out Columbus State after the two teams played to a 2-2 draw. The Spartans upset top-ranked and undefeated Grand Valley State 2-1 in the semifinals with Marissa Bernard getting the game-winning goal.

Tampa drew a first-round bye and then advanced with a 1-0 win over Quachia Baptist, which had beaten Nova Southeastern 2-0. The Spartans shutout Montevallo 2-0 in the round of 16. Montevallo had advanced with a 2-0 win over West Florida and a 2-1 overtime victory over St. Leo.

Columbus State made a great run to the quarters, beating Queens 5-0 and then upsetting Carson-Newman 3-0 and Tusculum 2-0

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Seminoles Come Up One Win Short

Florida State players and coaches celebrated winning their first game in a NCAA Division I College Cup semifinal on Friday afternoon
.
The 3-2 win over Notre Dame was a relief, of sorts, since the Seminoles had previously been 0-4 in College Cup appearances.

A year ago it had been the Irish that had ended the Seminoles’ season.
But they don’t pass out trophies after semifinal games. Coach Mark Krikorian and his players are well aware of that, and they soon put their 18th victory of the season behind them.

Perhaps they thought they had caught a break when the University of Southern California beat UCLA, 2-1, in the other semifinal. After all, USC had lost 11 straight games to their crosstown rival.

By Sunday afternoon in College Station, TX, the Seminoles found out that the Trojans certainly deserved to be there.

In fact, it was USC that dominated much of the action, putting together a goal in each half, and winning their first-ever Division I women’s national soccer championship.

Neither USC or FSU had ever been to the title game before. In fact, USC had never before advanced past the second round of the NCAAs.
Marihelen Tomer scored midway through the first half for the game’s first score, and Janessa Currier made it 2-0 with 15 minutes left in the game. The victory made USC only the seventh school to win a Division I women’s soccer championship.

“I can appreciate that some days you’re up and some days you’re not, and it was not our day,” said Krikorian. “A lot of that certainly goes to the quality of USC, the organization of their team, their talent as well.
“I’m proud of our team. I think we put a heck of an effort forth and we just weren’t quite good enough today.”

It seemed like the Seminoles were a step slower than the Trojans. They could not get behind USC’s well organized defense that produced five shutouts in six games during this tournament.

FSU came in with the most prolific offense in the country behind freshmen Amanda DaCosta and Finnish national team striker Sanna Talonen, and junior Mami Yamaguchi, the ACC’s Player of the Year.

The Trojans shut them down, and when they did get a look at the goal, USC’s 6-0 goalkeeper Kristin Olsen was unbeatable. She registered her 15th goal of the season.

“I think they’re very organized, well-coached, disciplined in their defending,” said Krikorian as he described USC’s defensive effort against his team.

“They’re strong and athletic and behind the back line is a goalkeeper who’s quite good. In order to break that down and to beat that defending you have to be really quick and we weren’t quite sharp enough in the penalty box today.”

Tough Love In Westwood

A good side story to the championship was that of USC’s first-year head coach Ali Khosroshahin. When he took the job, USC athletics director Mike Garrett told him that the school’s programs were only measured by national championships.

That raised the bar very high from Day One. Khosroshahin initiated a very physical training system, mostly running and physical conditioning. He wanted his players fit, and didn’t want to know anything about them personally.

The team adopted a saying, “So what! Get over it!”

It was a strong philosophy of tough love that many resisted, but none of his players question his approach now.

It had to be satisfying for Khosroshahin and his players to take their national championship trophy to Garrett’s office and put it on his desk.
“If we didn’t get it accomplished this year,” he said, “it would’ve been a huge disappointment. We’ve would’ve been back working again tomorrow.

“You have to have that belief in your players and you have to believe in each other and believe in the plan.”

Seminoles Are Making Progress

There was a lot of disappointment on the faces of the Seminoles as the final seconds were counted off at game’s end, but by anybody’s standard, they had a great season.

They would finish the year 18-6-3 and ranked in the Top 10 in the final national poll. They finished third in the ACC regular season, and runnerup for the ACC tournament championship, losing 3-0 to UNC.

Only four seniors will leave the program this year. They are gaining on that national title, one game at a time

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Florida State Advances To Championship Game

Amanda DaCosta scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute to help Florida State advance to its first NCAA Women's College Cup final with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame on Friday night.

Florida State faces Southern California in the NCAA championship at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday (Dec. 9).

DaCosta also assisted on Mami Yamaguchi's goal 15 seconds into the game, helping the Seminoles (18-5-3) avenge a loss to the Irish in last year's semifinal. Yamaguchi also had an assist and Sanna Talonen had a goal and an assist for Florida State, making its third consecutive appearance in the event, the Final Four of women's soccer.

Carrie Dew and Elise Weber scored for Notre Dame (19-5-2), which had a 17-game unbeaten streak snapped. The Irish were playing in the College Cup for the ninth time in 14 seasons, but lost in the semifinals for the third time.

Yamaguchi, the nation's second-leading goal scorer, touched the ball to start the game, then ran straight up the field. DaCosta fed her a perfect pass between defenders and Yamaguchi beat Irish goalkeeper Lauren Karas with a low shot for a 1-0 lead.

Yamaguchi's 24th goal of the season was the fastest in school history.

The Irish got their first corner kick in the 15th minute, and Kerri Hanks sent a high pass to Dew at the far side of the goal. Dew hit a shot that ricocheted off a Florida State defender to tie the game. Hanks finished the season with 21 assists.

The Seminoles regained the lead in the 33rd minute, with Yamaguchi providing the pinpoint pass this time. Talonen, a freshman forward, got the ball without breaking stride and sent a low shot under Karas. Her 18th goal of the season made it 2-1.

Florida State goalkeeper Erin McNulty saved a hard shot from Hanks three minutes into the second half as Notre Dame generated early pressure.

In the 56th minute, Weber sidestepped a Florida State defender and launched a high, hooking shot into the left corner to tie the game again.

The Irish kept the ball at the Florida State end most of the second half, but the Seminoles used another quick strike to score again.

Talonen split two defenders and found DaCosta cutting toward the net. DaCosta slid a shot under Karas to put Florida State ahead for good.

Florida State has outscored its opponents 17-4 in the NCAA tournament.

The USC women snapped an 11-match winless streak against crosstown rival UCLA with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in the NCAA semifinals at Aggie Stadium. Amy Rodriguez scored both goals for the Women of Troy, notching her first career multiple-goal game, and USC goalkeeper Kristin Olsen had a career-high eight saves.

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Gators Picked #1 In SEC

The University of Florida soccer program was picked by the league coaches to defend its Southeastern Conference team title in 2007.

Florida earned nine first-place votes, while Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt each received one vote. The Gators claimed their seventh SEC title in 2006 with a 7-1-3 league record.

In the preseason voting for the SEC East title, Florida led with nine first-place votes and 57 points. Tennessee was second with 47 points. The other East teams receiving a first-place vote included Vanderbilt (34 points), Georgia (30 pts.) and Kentucky (27 pts.).

In the West, Auburn was first with 58 total points (eight first-place votes) compared to Mississippi's 50 points (four first-place votes).

Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division, though each coach was not allowed to vote for his of her own team. Each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

"The level raises every year in the SEC and I expect 2007 to be very challenging league season. There are no off-nights in the SEC - we will need to be ready for every match," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said.

Florida returns 10 starters from the 2006 team that reached the NCAA Round of 16. The Gators scored 47 goals in 2006 and the team returns the scorers for 45 of those goals. Senior All-American Stacy Bishop led the Gators with 12 goals, 6 assists and 30 points in 2006. She was followed closely by junior All-American Ameera Abdullah with 11 goals and 24 points.

Florida will be tested in a pre-season exhibition match versus Texas A&M, set for Saturday, Aug. 25. Match time is set for 6 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Saturday's exhibition match features two NSCAA Preseason top-15 teams, as Texas A&M is No. 5 and Florida checks in at No. 13 on the list released Aug. 14. Both teams are the defending champion in their conference, as Texas A&M took the Big 12 crown with its 9-1 record.
2007 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
SEC Champion: Florida (9), Georgia (1), Kentucky (1), Vanderbilt (1)
2006 Standings and Records
Team SEC Pts. H A Div. ALL Pct.
EASTERN DIVISION (2007 Votes)
Florida!^ (9) 7-1-3 24.0 4-1-0 3-0-3 2-1-2 14-6-5 .660
Kentucky# (1) 6-3-2 20.0 4-1-1 2-2-1 3-1-1 14-7-3 .646
Tennessee 6-3-2 20.0 5-1-0 1-2-2 3-1-1 12-7-4 .609
Vanderbilt (1) 6-3-2 20.0 3-1-1 3-2-1 2-3-0 10-4-7 .643
South Carolina 5-2-4 19.0 3-0-3 2-2-1 1-2-2 11-6-5 .614
Georgia (1) 5-6-0 15.0 3-2-0 2-4-0 1-4-0 10-9-0 .526
WESTERN DIVISION (2007 Votes)
Auburn^ (8) 5-3-3 18.0 3-2-1 2-1-2 3-0-2 11-6-3 .625
Mississippi (4) 4-2-5 17.0 2-0-3 2-2-2 3-0-2 8-7-5 .525
LSU 4-4-3 15.0 3-1-2 1-3-1 3-1-1 9-8-3 .525
Arkansas 3-6-2 11.0 1-2-2 2-4-0 2-2-1 10-7-2 .579
Alabama 1-10-0 3.0 1-4-0 0-6-0 1-4-0 5-14-0 .263
Miss. State 1-10-0 3.0 1-5-0 0-5-0 0-5-0 2-16-0 .111
!--2006 SEC Champion; #--2006 SEC Tournament Champion; ^--2006 Eastern Division Champion;
^-- 2006 Western Division Champion

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Pumas tab Queen as new coach

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- The Palm Beach Pumas have announced the signing of Gerry Queen as their new Head Coach of the PDL Program. Gerry Queen has spent the past six seasons with the Cocoa Expos where they won five division titles.

Executive Director Bobby Lennon who has coached the Pumas the past six years is stepping down to assistant coach.

Lennon said, "I have the utmost respect for Gerry on and off the field. I think his track record as a player and coach speaks for itself. I am proud to work under Gerry Queen in our program."

Queen added, "I am excited to be back in the area and the opportunity to work with the Pumas. We have had some great games against each other in the past and developed strong ties. I cannot wait to get started."

Prior to the Expos, Queen also coached the Orlando Nighthawks of the USL Second Division and the Boca Raton Sabres. He played professionally in Scotland, England and South Africa.

The Pumas are currently conducting tryouts. Please contact pumasfc@aol.com for more information. Palm Beach will start the season May 6th at Nashville.

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FSU Lose to Notre Dame In Semifinals

"I hope we have laid a foundation. I hope that we're back each and every year. I hope that we set the cornerstone and the The fifth-ranked FSU soccer team returned to the College Cup for the third time in four years and vowed to make this trip different. After suffering shutout losses in both previous trips, the 2006 Seminoles lived up to their word, but fell just short of advancing to the school's first ever National Championship game. Notre Dame (25-0-1) ran out to a 2-0 lead on Florida State (18-4-4) and then held on during a furious second half attack for a 2-1 victory.

"I thought it was a very good soccer game," said FSU Head Coach Mark Krikorian. "The two teams were very interested in playing good soccer. The first half I thought that Notre Dame was in more control of the game, in the second I felt our team was. But very hard fought and credit to Notre Dame for protecting the lead. Good game, tough result for us but that's the way this game goes."

For FSU the 2006 national semi-final started to play out in an all too familiar fashion to the 2005 game versus UCLA. The Seminoles once again played an opponent to a 0-0 tie before allowing two goals in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Last year versus the Bruins, FSU could not get back in the game but this year was different. India Trotter cut the Fighting Irish lead in half just 6:22 into the second period. The Seminoles then continued to pressure Notre Dame but could not cash in and score the equalizer.

"A two-goal lead in probably the most dangerous lead to have," said Notre Dame Head Coach Randy Waldrum. "You're probably better off to only be up one often times. We didn't want to give up an early goal in the second half and we didn't want to sit and we wanted to continue to attack. But then they got the goal early."

The goal came when FSU moved Trotter up top in the second half. The first team NSCAA All-American started the game in the back to try and deal with Notre Dame's M.A.C. Hermann Trophy finalist Kerrie Hanks. After Florida State fell behind 2-0, Krikorian changed the formation and pushed Trotter into the attack.

"We know that India's going to be a National Team back, we've trained her there some and she's played for us some there. We thought in the match-up today the tactics might suit us best to start that way and then read the game as it went on."

The energy Trotter provided was evident immediately and lasted the entire 45 minutes. The Seminoles out shot the Irish 8-6 in the second half and took three corners to none for Notre Dame.

Six-year senior Ali Mims recorded seven saves in the game and kept FSU in the contest early on as Notre Dame found some success attacking.

Courtney Rosen got Notre Dame on the board in the 36th minute. The Seminole defense played a ball towards its own goal and the freshman out raced Libby Gianeskis to the loose ball. Rosen turned and fired in the right side of the goal putting Notre Dame in front 1-0.

Just three minutes later the Irish struck again. The second goal started with a corner kick from Hanks. The All-American played a ball in at the near post on to the head of Brittany Bock. Her header was redirected on to the goal and passed Mims by Jill Krivacek.

"We're down 2-1, if we don't get a goal back the game's over," said Kelly Rowland speaking of the FSU effort in the second half. "We're fighting for our lives out there. I think we had chances and that's all you can ask for. It just wasn't our day finishing. We got chances when we needed them, with Notre Dame maybe they go in and maybe they don't. At the end of the day I thought we played well and I'm proud of our team."

For FSU's five seniors that were a part of three College Cups, the ending was once again bitter but with an 11-3-2 record in the NCAA Tournament and 67 wins in four seasons, the class leaves FSU as the most successful group in program history and one of the most successful senior classes in the nation in 2006.

"It's very frustrating actually," said Trotter of how her career ended. "Having our team play well and not be successful and win the game is like coach says its how soccer goes. Credit to Notre Dame for protecting the lead. It's very frustrating being my senior year but I had a great four years and I couldn't ask to play with anyone else than who I played these last fours years and we had a good run.
foundation for Florida State to win the National Championship."

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Fleck, Beddingfield Out At USF, L-R

University of South Florida women’s soccer coach T. Logan Fleck will not have his contract renewed, according to USF director of athletics Doug Woolard.

“We decided our women’s soccer program needed new direction,” Woolard said. “We are confident the position will draw interest from a deep pool of talented coaches and we look forward to finding the very best candidate possible. Our national search will begin immediately.”

Fleck coached the USF women for 11 seasons, compiling an 86-90-18 record.

Also, Lenoir-Rhyne College has announced the resignation of Will Beddingfield, head women's soccer coach, effectively immediately.

Beddingfield, a 1992 graduate of Carson-Newman College, compiled a 56-68-10 mark over the past seven years (2000-06).

He led the team to two berths in the Food Lion SAC Tournament Finals (2002 and 2005) and his best season came in 2002, when he compiled a 13-5-2 mark on the year.

Beddingfield also coached 12 players to All-South Atlantic Conference honors and leaves Lenoir-Rhyne as the school's winningest coach.

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Romario’s Hat Trick Leads Miami FC

On a beautiful afternoon in South Florida, Miami FC played the current USL champions, Seattle Sounders, at Tropical Park Stadium, coming away with an exciting 5-3. The game was televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.

Former Brazilian World Cup star Romario led the winning effort with a three-goal hat trick.

The first half ended with a 2-1 lead for the South Floridians. Miami FC got on the board first thanks to a great shot inside the box by Mike Adeyemi. It was the first goal of the season for the Nigerian midfielder.

Seattle played a man down since the 26th minute when Andrew Gregor was given a red card for violent conduct in a play with Brazilian Diego Walsh. However, Seattle tied the game in the 31st minute on Weaver’s 5th goal of the season.

Shortly after in the 45th minute, Romario was taken down in the box by two Sounder defenders and was awareded a pentaly kick. The USL’s top scorer, Romario, converted it for his seventh goal of the season.

At the beginning of the second half, Keel tied the game for the Sounders.

Later on, Romario gave Miami FC the lead back after capitalizing on a brilliant pass by Mario Rodriguez.

But a minute later O’Brien tied it for Seattle on a penalty kick.

Then again, Romario was not done and with two minutes left in the game he made a spectacular diving header on a cross by Ziinho. That was the game winner for Miami FC; 4-3. With that goal, Romario brought his goal total to nine goals with Miami FC.

To close the deal for Miami FC was Colombian Oscar Gil’s goal during injury time that solidified the score to 5-3.

Next up for Miami FC is the Portland Timbers, at PGE Park on Sunday, July 2.

Miami FC 5, Seattle Sounders 3
Tropical Park Stadium, Miami
Sunday, June 18, 2006 5:00 PM EST
Weather: Cloudy

Summary:
MIA: Adeyemi 12
SEA: Weaver (Levesque) 32
MIA: Romario (pen.) 45
SEA: Keel 49
MIA: Romario (M Rodriguez) 66
SEA: O'Brien (pen.) 68
MIA: Romario (Walsh) 88
MIA: Gil 90

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Five return from Rollins to Kraze

ORLANDO, FL -- The Central Florida Kraze have re-signed five players from Rollins College to compete in the upcoming 2006 season. The players are Tres Loch, Danny Robertson, Anthony Santiago, Chris Cerroni, and Dennis Chin. Three were members of the 2004 PDL championship team.

Rollins College finished third in the Sunshine State Conference in 2005 behind Saint Leo and Lynn University with a conference record of 6-2-0 and an overall record of 10-5-0. Loch and Robertson were both named to the 2005 All-SCC Men’s First Team while Chris Cerroni was named to the Second Team. Robertson was also named SSC Defensive Player of the Year for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons. All five players have previous playing experience with the Kraze.

Kraze Head Coach Joe Avallone says, "I have high expectations for these returning players. They will be expected to lead the team into the playoffs and create a strong showing in the US Open Cup. I’ve worked with all of these athletes for several years now and I’m looking forward to a great season."

Tres Loch is a Lake Mary High graduate and Rollins College team captain at midfield. He started 18 games as a sophomore for Rollins, recording two assists and 17 shots on goal and was named to the All-South Region second team. He finished his freshman season with one goal and one assist for three points in 19 games. This will be his fourth season with the Kraze. He has two goals in 35 games with the club.

English native Daniell Robertson is a two-time All-American and experienced defender with outstanding technical talent. He completed his junior season at Rollins with four assists while starting all 19 games, earning him first team All-Conference, All-South Region, and All-American honors. This will be his third season with the Kraze. He has five goals and three assists in 24 games with the club.

Rollins senior Anthony Santiago is a fast defender who is skillful with the ball. He started all 19 games for Rollins as a sophomore, registering one goal and three assists for five points. His lone score was the game-winning goal, recorded 40 seconds into overtime against Montevallo in the first round of the NCAA South Regional. He also saw action in 19 games as a freshman and notched two assists. Santiago has been named to the 2004 and 2003 All-SSC Academic Honor Rolls. Under Coach Avallone at Oviedo High School, Santiago was team captain and team MVP as a senior. He also earned a first team All-Conference selection his senior year. This will also be Santiago’s fourth season with the Kraze. He has one goal in 31 games with the club.

One of the top scorers from the Kraze last season, Chris Cerroni led Rollins College for the second straight season in goals (10), assists (8) and points (28) as a sophomore. He started all 19 games and was named first team All-Conference and first team All-South Region in 2004. Cerroni earned the SSC Freshman of the Year Award and was named to the first team All-South Region and second team All-SSC as a freshman. There are high expectations for him to have another breakout year with the Kraze this season. He had five goals and an assist in nine games last year.

Dennis Chin, a graduate of Oviedo High School; is a freshman forward for Rollins College. He was a three-year starter at Oviedo where he finished with 75 career goals and 24 assists. He also was a two-time All-State, All-Conference, All-District, All-County, and All-Central Florida honoree. This will be Chin’s second season with the Kraze, but he was also coached by Avallone during his four years at Oviedo High. He played in just two matches last season.

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Florida State Upsets UNC On PKs

The last time FSU and UNC played, the Seminoles outshot the Tar Heels and recorded a series-high four shots on goal. They lost that game 4-1. Friday night it was the Heels who dominated the stats, but FSU who is going to its second College Cup in the last three years. After a 1-1 tie, No. 11 FSU (20-3-1) eliminated the second-ranked Tar Heels (23-1-1) 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout. India Trotter scored FSU‚s lone goal in the 1-1 tie and Minna Pyykko saved Heather O’Reilly’s PK in the shootout to help eliminate the Tar Heels.

Portland eliminated defending national champion Notre Dame 3-1 to reach the College Cup semifinals, while Virginia was shutout 5-0 by 2004 runnerup UCLA. The fourth semifinal spot goes to Penn State, which edged Santa Clara 2-1.

“I want to congratulate one of our conference rivals, Florida State, for making it to the final four,” said UNC Head Coach Anson Dorrance. “They never gave up in this game all the way to taking the penalty kicks. Obviously, we are disappointed not to advance because I feel we played very well today. Better than the first time we played Florida State.”

“We knew coming in that it would be a difficult game and difficult to establish a rhythm,” said FSU’s first year head coach Mark Krikorian. “I'm proud of our kids. I thought our effort was outstanding. We're pleased to move on. UNC dominated for most of the game, but our kids hung in there.”

North Carolina came into the match 57-2 all-time at home in the NCAA Tournament and 17-1 lifetime versus FSU but it was the Seminoles who will advance despite the lopsided stats. The Tar Heels held a 31-7 edge in shots, a 10-1 edge in corners and put 19 shots on goal compared to just three for FSU but redshirt-junior goalkeeper Ali Mims was phenomenal all night. The Ponte Vedra Beach, FL native, in her first full season since more than 20 surgeries to repair a broken tibia in 2001, recorded a career high 13 saves in the victory.

The dream of reaching the 2005 College Cup started early for FSU as just 8:25 into the match the Seminoles jumped on top. Trotter’s fifth goal of the NCAA Tournament was her second of the season versus the Heels and it put FSU up 1-0.

Florida State held the lead for 47:59 following the goal, their longest lead ever in the series. The Heels than began to pressure and nearly evened the match. Following a UNC corner the Tar Heels had multiple shots on goal inside the six -ard box that the FSU defenders kept turning away. The ball almost crossed the Seminole goal line on more than one occasion but the Heels were unable to poke the ball in.

Less than 12 minutes into the second half Kendall Fletcher evened the match on a header at the back post.

After Tar Heels tied the game 1-1 on Fletchers‚ goal in the 57th minute, neither team could break the deadlock for the next 33 minutes. Despite being out shot 31-7 for the game the match moved into overtime for just the second time in 19 meetings between the schools with the last coming in 1995. The Seminoles entered the match 2-0 in OT in 2005 and 2-0-1 all-time in overtime in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida State will now take on another No. 1 seed in UCLA (21-1-2) who defeated Virginia 5-0 in Los Angeles Friday night. The game will be played Friday, December 2 at 4:30 pm EST and will be shown live on ESPNU. A tape delayed broadcast will be shown on ESPN2 Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

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USL SoccerFest coming to Tampa

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, announced Monday the inaugural USL SoccerFest will be held in Tampa, the home of the organization’s headquarters, in the fall of 2005. The USL SoccerFest is comprised of the USL 2005 Annual General Meeting and the Super Y-League North American Finals.

The USL SoccerFest is expected to become an annual event in Tampa with a multi-year partnership between USL and the TBSC being finalized that would make Tampa the home of the USL SoccerFest through 2008. Future editions of the USL SoccerFest are expected to feature the USL AGM and SYL North American Finals being held concurrently.

“I am very proud to announce that we are bringing the USL SoccerFest to Tampa, my personal and soccer home,” said USL President and Founder Francisco Marcos, who served as director of public relations and vice president of soccer operations for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League for eight years in the 70’s. “Heading into our 10th year with our headquarters in Tampa and 20th overall, there could be no more fitting place to hold the USL SoccerFest. We feel this event will be the beginning of many wonderful things in the Tampa area for the soccer community.”

“We could not be more excited to form this dynamic partnership with United Soccer Leagues,” said TBSC Executive Director Rob Higgins. “This announcement will have a tremendous economic and social impact on our incredible soccer community.”

2005 USL AGM
The Annual General Meeting, USL’s annual gathering of team executives and soccer dignitaries for operations and strategic planning meetings returns to Tampa for the first time since 1997 after holding the event in Clearwater the past seven years. This year’s AGM will be held October 29-31.

Every year, over 300 team owners, executives and other important figures in the soccer community meet at the USL AGM to discuss important soccer issues. This three-day conference will feature representatives from each of USL’s senior teams as well as other soccer dignitaries.

2005 SYL North American Finals
USL’s biggest event, the Super Y-League North American Finals comes to Tampa for the first time, November 17-22. Founded in 1999, the league’s championship events have been to Raleigh, NC, Rockford, IL, Orlando, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Cleveland, OH and Atlanta, GA.

The SYL North American Finals, regarded as the top youth soccer event in North America, is a five-day tournament that includes over 140 of the best youth soccer teams in the US and Canada from U13 to U17 for boys and girls. Teams will qualify from their respective regions and will face the best from around North America in a quest to become league champions. The event will include over 5,000 players, parents and spectators. The 2004 finals featured teams from Vancouver to Miami with teams representing some of the top professional clubs in the nation such as Major League Soccer’s DC United and MetroStars.

The Super Y-League is a professionalized system that is the first step for developing youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers such as Freddy Adu, who played for the DC United U14 squad at the age of 12. Through Olympic Development Program status events such as the SYL North American Finals and SYL ODP Camps, the nation’s top players are selected for National Team programs.

Grand Hyatt – Tampa Bay
The Grand Hyatt – Tampa Bay, located near Tampa International Airport, will serve as the host hotel for both events. The Grand Hyatt is a 14-story tower featuring 445 deluxe guest rooms, including 23 suites, 45 separate Casitas, conference facilities and three outstanding restaurants. It is all located on a 35-acre wildlife preserve directly on the shores of Tampa Bay. For more about the Grand Hyatt – Tampa Bay, visit grandtampabay.hyatt.com

Ed Radice Soccer Complex
The majority of the 2005 SYL North American Finals will be played at the Ed Radice Soccer Complex, home of Hillsborough County United, a member of the Super Y-League. Additional games will be played at the University of South Florida’s recreation fields.

Francisco Marcos and Tampa Soccer History
The Tampa Bay Rowdies were members of the North American Soccer League from 1975-84 and were one of the most successful teams in the league on and off the field, drawing crowds in excess of 40,000 and winning the Soccer Bowl in its inaugural season. The team went on to reach the final three more times and capture the indoor championship in 1980. While with the Rowdies, Marcos was visible in the community as host of a weekly radio show and color commentator for televised games. Under Marcos’ tutelage, the Tampa Bay Area’s youth soccer organization would blossom into the Florida Youth Soccer Association. A native of Portugal, Marcos is recognized by his peers as a key figure in the international soccer community. He serves or has served on the board of directors of US Soccer, the US Soccer Foundation, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the US Soccer Governing task force. Fluent in five languages, he has also served as head of delegation for numerous US Soccer trips abroad and liaison for visiting teams such as Brazil. Marcos has been honored by the NSCAA with a letter of commendation in 2005 and has been inducted into the Hartwick College and USL Hall of Fames.

United Soccer Leagues
As the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the US and Canada. Founded in the fall of 1986, USL and its franchises are committed to a quality family entertainment experience that is community-centered, accessible, affordable, exciting and educational. In addition to the Super Y-League, USL consists of a two-tiered professional division (USL First Division and USL Second Division) and men’s and women’s amateur leagues (Premier Development League and W-League). For more information about USL, visit www.USLsoccer.com

Tampa Bay Sports Commission
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is a private, non-profit, 501c3, charitable corporation that serves the entire Tampa Bay area as the lead organization for bidding on and hosting major amateur sporting events. Their mission is to attract, promote and/or organize major amateur sporting events, and grassroots youth sports programs, that foster the ongoing development and quality of life for the entire Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission works to unite all interests in the Bay Area under one full-service approach that provides leadership and guidance for the benefit of all parties involved with amateur and youth sports. The Sports Commission works with the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau to provide a wealth of services to potential events and their governing bodies. For more information about the TBSC, visit www.tampabaysports.org

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New FSU Coach Successful At Each Stop

Mark Krikorian has had a commitment to excellence everywhere he has coached.

He led Franklin Pierce to two Division II national championships.
He helped the University of Hartford earn four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight.

He was named the Women's United Soccer Association's Coach of the Year in 2002 with the Philadelphia Charge.

And just last year he helped the Under-19 U.S. Women's National team earn a bronze medal at the FIFA Women's World Championship.

Krikorian's commitment to excellence was one of the characteristics Florida State University was looking for in a new women's soccer coach.
That's why the Seminoles tabbed Krikorian to be their new coach last month. Krikorian takes over for Patrick Baker, who left Tallahassee, Fla., in December 2004 to take the head coaching job at the University of Georgia.

"He is a great fit for us," said Florida State Senior Associate Athletic Director Kim Record, who directed the coaching searches for Baker and Krikorian. "We were at a different point in our program. We were looking for a very different type of coach from when we hired Patrick. Then we were looking for builder. I did a lot of research and Mark's name came up early, but I wasn’t sure if he was interested in getting back to the college game.

"What Mark did that made him stand out in that pool was he has a var iety of experience. He had three different levels of coaching very, very good players."

Record said she didn't have to convince Krikorian that FSU was the right fit for him. She said Krikorian did plenty of research about the school. What he found on the soccer side was a program that went from a 9-10-1 (0-6-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) record in Baker's first year in 1999 to a program that in 2003 advanced to the Women's College Cup.

Under Baker, the Seminoles advanced to five straight NCAA tournaments, including Sweet 16 appearances in 2000 and 2002.
Krikorian, who coached at the University of Hartford from 1996-2000, said FSU's commitment to excellence in all phases of its athletic department attracted him to the job. He said he had considered several college head coaching positions after in his final season with the WUSA in 2003, but he said he never found the right fit.
Krikorian didn't have to look too long to see FSU was for him.

"One of the hardest things in sport is to maintain a level of success. That's why we hold (North) Carolina in such high esteem because they do it year after year after year," Krikorian said. "The next challenge at Florida State I face is to maintain the level Patrick and his staff created. I imagine if he would have stayed it would have been a challenge for him. Once you are in the top 20 continuously, that is an admirable step, but the next step is how to continue and to improve on that and how do we get back to the College Cup."

FSU went 12-5-2 this past season, but injuries to a handful of players, including senior midfielder Camie Bybee and junior forward Leah Gallegos, contributed to the team's loss to Boston College in penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Krikorian said he hopes to get the Seminoles back to the College Cup with a possession-oriented attack. He said the system won't be drastically different from Baker's, but he said he wants to help players better read the play, improve their technique and help them better understand nuances of the game, like passing angles and passing distances. He said the opportunity to coach in the ACC, arguably the best women's soccer conference in the nation, was intriguing, and he said he welcomes the opportunity to play against the best teams every match.

Krikorian, a former player at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., coached at Division II Franklin Pierce from 1990-96. The former New England Indoor Soccer League All-Star coached the team to two national titles before moving on to the Division I level at Hartford. Krikorian's ability to find talent, particularly foreign players, enabled the Hawks to remain a regional and a national power.

He said his task at FSU would be to find the best student-athletes. He said his ability to attract the top U.S. players would be easier at FSU than at Hartford simply because of the school's resources and facilities.
Krikorian also hopes his experience with the U.S. Women's National team will help him on and off the field. He served as a scout for the U.S. Women's National team in 2003 and then took over the U-19 program from Tracy Leone in February 2004. He helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal at the FIFA World Championship in November in Thailand and was exposed to a variety of strategies and systems that he feels will help him at FSU.

"I learned that there are many, many different ways to do things," said Krikorian, who recently hired U-17 coach Erica Walsh to be one of his assistant coaches. "I said a couple of times that coaching in the U-19 World Cup is like a soccer lab. You could watch the Koreans one day, the Brazilians one day, the Italians the next day and the Germans the next day and all of them had slightly different styles and different ways they played. I wanted to try to take little pieces of them and put them in the back of my mind, and as we start to create the team here, look at the strengths and weaknesses and maybe if I saw something from the Spanish team, incorporate it to our team."

U.S. Women's National team coach April Heinrichs said Krikorian's hard work and knowledge of the game would serve him well at FSU.
"The first thing that comes to mind is Mark's work ethic is unparalleled," Heinrichs said. "He has a great eye for talent, and he will leave no stone unturned, at home and overseas, trying to find the best players for Florida State."

Heinrichs agreed with Record that Krikorian would be a great fit in Tallahassee. She said his ability to meld talent into a cohesive unit at the college and at the professional level would help him succeed at FSU.
Record feels Krikorian will be able to help the women's soccer program take the next step.

"I had such a good relationship with Patrick Baker and I hired Patrick," Record said. "I knew we had to find somebody special to build on the foundation he had built, but it was not someone who was exactly like Patrick. The people you bring in have to share the vision and share the values and want the same thing. Mark does that.

"One of his strengths is his ability to look at a situation analytically to see what the needs are and put the pieces of the puzzle together."

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Fitzgerald Dies In Accident

TAMPA, Fla. - Tom Fitzgerald came home to Tampa a year ago, back to a job he had previously held for 10 years, coaching the men’s soccer team at the University of Tampa before heading to the pros and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

In 2003 he left UCLA, where he had led the Bruins to the NCAA Division I championship in 2002 to return to Tampa. At the time he said the move would enable him to spend more time with his family, wife Debi and sons Jesse and Shane.

Sadly, Fitzgerald lost his life in a motocycle accident on December 4 while on his way to scout players at the Nike friendlies in Bradenton. He was 53 years old.

A automobile, driven by Ann Critcher, 44, of Tampa, pulled away from a stop sign into Fitzgerald’s path causing the accident. It was reported that Fitzgerald called his wife, Debi, shortly following the collision, and was in critical, but stable, condition at Tampa General Hospital in the early afternoon.

However, he was taken into emergency surgery as his blood pressure dropped, and he died of a ruptured aorta during surgery.

Fitzgerald began his coaching career at Jesuit High School in Tampa, and then took over the men’s head coaching position at the University of Tampa, leading the Spartans to a NCAA Division II national championship in 1994.

His career took him to Major League Soccer as an assistant coach with the Columbus Crew in the inaugural MLS season in 1996 and he was appointed interim head coach with 10 games left in the season. He was elevated to head coach at the end of that season after leading the team to a 9-1 record and a playoff spot.

Fitzgerald returned to the University of Tampa this year after coaching the Spartans from 1987-96, leading them to the Division II championship in 1994 and the Final Four three times. When he led UCLA to the 2002 NCAA national title he became only the third person to win a championship in the top two divisions.

About 50 people, most of them current men's and women's players, gathered at midfield in a tribute at the school stadium Saturday night.

Fitzgerald coached Columbus from 1996-01, leading the team to three straight conference titles.

"Tom was an integral component in the organizations early development and left a lasting impression," Crew interim general manager Mark McCullers said. "He was an active member of the Columbus community and will always be a part of the Crew family."

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Rivera Has Become A Solid FSU Defender

When Teresa Rivera committed to Florida State while the Seminoles were down in South Florida to play FIU in 2001, it was a big deal. Any time a Gatorade Player of the Year commits it is huge but when the player is your first Gatorade Player of the Year from Florida, it is even more special. The defender from Parkland, FL was set to play next to Katie Beal in the middle of the FSU defense for three years and that is the way things started in 2002.

“It has been exciting for me and it started with the recruiting process,” recalls Rivera. “Coach Baker is a great recruiter and I was happy to come to FSU. My expectations were to just do my best. I didn’t come here expecting there would be a lot of pressure on me to step out and start immediately. I was fortunate to win a starting job my first year as a freshman.”

While she feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to start now, stepping in as a rookie defender in the ACC is one of the most pressure filled roles in college soccer. That season Rivera saw action in 21 of FSU’s 23 games. She made 12 starts and those 12 starts all came in the first 14 games of her career. She started against Clemson’s Deliah Arrington, Florida’s Crystal Frimpong, Duke’s Casey McCluskey, Wake’s Alena Thom and Alyssa Ramsey and Lindsay Tarpley of North Carolina to just name a few.

“It was a big jump from high school,” said Rivera. “Everything is faster and the game is quicker. On an individual level the players are smarter and that is what I have learned the most from the college game. As a position player in the back, you have to not only know what you should be doing but what every player at every position should be doing as well.”

“It was pretty intimidating. You hear so much about Tarpley, Arrington, Ramsey, (Lori) Lindsey (Virginia) and the list just goes on. Outside of a little bit of video, you don’t even get to see them play before you have to defend them as a freshman. As the years go on you start to gain the confidence that you can play with them because you have in the past. Hopefully you become one of those intimidating defenders that those forwards don’t want to go against.”

Rivera is getting to that level but there have been ups and downs along the way. The central defender has been moved to the left side, she has lost her starting job on two separate occasions in 2002 and 2003 and has battled against her own confidence along the way. She has had to fight to regain her spot each preseason but outside of the rare player, those struggles are normal for a defender playing in the nation’s most dangerous soccer conference.

“It is very difficult to be a freshman defender when you consider the talented forwards we have in this conference,” said head coach Patrick Baker. “T (Teresa Rivera) came in and didn’t just play outside back her freshman year, she played center back. She did a great job under difficult circumstances. I don’t think she struggled as much as she was adjusting to the level of the college game at a difficult position.”

“That was a life lessons in itself when I lost my job last year,” said Rivera. “I learned not to give up. I now know how it is not to start and understand both sides. It taught me a lot. I learned to appreciate that starting job because you never know what can happen. Someone is always competing for your position. When my name flashes up on that scoreboard in the starting 11, it means so much more to me now. At my best I just want to be consistent.”

That consistency Rivera is searching for is a product of confidence. The junior knows that her level of play is directly tied to her confidence level. It may not be an ideal situation but it is one she is dealing with.

“Confidence is huge,” said Rivera. “Definitely with me, it plays a huge role. The game is so mental for me. When my confidence is up I play well. It isn’t good, but my game does depend a lot on my confidence and emotions. I have done better at controlling my confidence level and trying to keep it high. I have always looked for motivation from others. Now that I am in college and on my own, I have to find that motivation and confidence in myself. I struggled getting a grasp on that my freshman year. Now I do a better job of keeping myself motivated day-by-day and play-by-play.”

There was no lower point for Rivera than FSU’s 3-1 loss at Kansas last year, which sent the team to 1-4. After starting the first five games, Rivera was once again out of the top 11 after the Jayhawk loss. It was a tough blow for a player that thought she had made it over the hump winning back a starting spot in the preseason of her sophomore year.

“The Kansas game last year is one I would like to change,” recalls Rivera. “That’s definitely one I would like to get back. That is when I lost my starting position. It gave me a chance to see the games outside of the white lines. That helped me and that is the positive that came from a negative situation. It helped me better understand what I could do better and what I did well. It also gave me the drive and motivation to not be satisfied with my role on the bench, to regain a starting spot.”

Rivera got that starting spot back a month later although it wasn’t the way she hoped it would happen. When four-year starter and team captain Kristin Boyce broke her foot in the 12th game of the year, Rivera was called on to step back in to the line-up. The Tribe was in the midst of a streak in which they had posted a 7-1 record and had climbed out of the hole from a 1-4 start. Now Rivera’s teammates were once again looking to her to step in and start.

“At first I was down after losing my spot,” said Rivera. “I knew I had to keep my head up because if I wanted to get back in, I couldn’t keep my head down. I had to build myself up. The people around me were always encouraging me. My roommates, my family and my teammates kept pushing me to keep working. Unfortunately, Boyce got hurt and the team needed me to step in. I had the opportunity to finish off the season the way I wanted to, on the field and being fortunate enough to start in the final four.”

“Her being able to solidify that left back position after Boyce’s injury really allowed us to continue the season without missing a beat,” said Baker. “I thought the true test was Wake Forest. Although we didn’t win, that game ended up a tie, the fact we shut them out at their place for 110 minutes and T did a good job, I just knew we’d be fine. At that point in time she had started and then wasn’t starting. She realized it was a great opportunity for her and she grabbed it and never let it go. That is a credit to her.”

That stretch run turned out to be a blessing for Rivera. She was thrown back into the fire in the most difficult stretch of games on the Tribe schedule. She faced No. 1 North Carolina twice, and started every ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament game. She was on the field versus West Virginia in the Sweet 16, Florida in the Elite Eight and finally UConn in the final four.

“It was very exciting starting in the College Cup and the nerves from freshmen year came back that day because it was unchartered territory for us,” said Rivera. “To play in the final four was just an amazing experience. We wanted to get to the national title game but it goes didn’t go our way that day. A great experience nonetheless. Now we know what it takes to get there and we want to get back.

“Those last 11 starts boosted my confidence. I was so fortunate to be a part of that run to the College Cup. That helped me as we moved into spring because of the quality of teams I started against down the stretch. That is the foundation I built on heading into this season.”

If the Seminoles are going to get back there Rivera will have to play a huge role. In a defense that is coming off one of the best seasons in ACC history and the best season in school history, Rivera is now a junior who has started for at least 12 games each of her first two seasons. She is no longer the freshman thrust into the fire and she is being counted on as a leader in 2004.

“There is more of an understanding of what you need to do and what is expected of you as a junior compared to my rookie year,” said Rivera. “Freshman year you are always on an emotional high because it is the beginning of your college career. Now the nerves have definitely settled and there is more focus on what your job is instead of just being excited to play. I am still excited everyday but it is more controlled.”

That experience is helping Rivera as she regained her starting spot in the preseason and she is looking to once again contribute to a special defense. Despite her time on the bench, Rivera started 16 of 24 games on that record-setting backline last year and it is an accomplishment she is very proud of.

“We took a lot of pride in what this defense accomplished last year and it helped us get as far as we did,” said Rivera. “We defended well not just in the back four but as a team. Coach Baker has stressed that since I have been at FSU. The back four needs to be strong and we can’t give up easy goals. I was very proud of this team last year, the back four and Joy (McKenzie). We worked hard and accomplished some special things.

“We are very cohesive group. We understand each other. We know each other’s tendencies and there is a sense of comfort back there. We trust each other and would do anything for each other on and off the field. It is so comforting knowing the person next to you or behind you is there for you all the time”

That comfort and trust that has been built up in the back four is a key if FSU is to return to Cary, NC for the 2004 College Cup. Coach Baker has stressed to his team that the journey to get back to the final four is tough and many teams that get there one year don’t get back but Rivera thinks FSU has already cleared one major hurdle on that long road back.

“Last year we didn’t really believe deep down that we could do as well as we did,” said Rivera. “We all come to FSU to win a National Championship but I am not sure we all believed it could happen. Everyone just took it one step at a time and we kept surprising ourselves. Coach Baker was the only one who really knew we had what it took. Now we have that understanding. We know we are good enough, we know what it takes and we know how hard you have to work to make it a reality. We all believe now. We are one of the best teams in the country.”

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Central Florida Wins 2004 PDL
National Championship

ORLANDO, FL -- The Central Florida Kraze captured the 2004 PDL National Championship Saturday night in Orlando as they downed the Boulder Rapids Reserve 1-0 on a goal from Justin Cook in the 88th minute.

Central Florida star forward Orville 'Villa' Mullings got the ball from Xavier Delgado in the middle at the top of the box and as he cut to the right side, he let off a shot that deflected off the defender marking him. The floating ball glanced off the fingertips of the outstretched hands of diving Rapids Reserve goalkeeper Luis Robles and to the feet of Cook, who put the loose ball away for the game-winner.

The game, broadcast live on FOX SPORTS WORLD, was delayed an hour due to a thunderstorm. Kraze President/GM,Greg Brick stated” It was a tremendous sight to see hundreds of fans lined up and in the rain to watch the match. I would like to personally thank our Central Florida soccer community for their support this season as this is truly an honor to bring the National Championship trophy to our hometown.”

The game was finally underway and the visiting team had most of the play and took it early and often to the Kraze, however the Central Florida defense held strong with Robert Gibbon leading the way. The Kraze only had a few chances in the first half but managed to come away with a

0 – 0 score at halftime. Coach Joe Avallones’ halftime speech must have been motivational as the Kraze came out strong and right at the Boulder Rapids Reserve. It looked as if it was only a matter of time before the Kraze would score but the Boulder’s goalkeeper came up with several big saves including a one-on-one breakaway by Villa Mullings.

The game was destined for overtime and a “golden goal” situation until Justin Cook’s heroics and Ryan McIntoshs’ superb goalkeeping secured the PDL National Championship for the Kraze and the Central Florida Soccer Community!

Coach Avallone stated “Every single player sacrificed so much over the summer in order to bring this title to the Central Florida area. The coaches, staff, volunteers and fans that have been with us since the start of the season should understand it was a total effort which enabled this dream to come true!”

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Is A-League Coming To Lockhart

The U.S. Under-20 team will return to Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium next month for a game against Brazil, and the word is out in Broward County that soccer will return to Lockhart on a regular basis in the summer of 2005.

Soccer promoter Eddie Rodger, who is handling the game with Brazil, is in discussions with a number of potential investors to put an A-League team in Lockhart next summer. Since the loss of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, Florida has been without professional soccer of any kind.

Rodger has been involved in soccer in South Florida for the last two and a half decades, and another familiar personality has also been involved in the A-League discussions. Ray Hudson, the former Miami Fusion head coach who moved back home in Fort Lauderdale after being released earlier this year as head coach at D.C. United, has been involved in the discussions, but has declined suggestions that he is a prime player in the formation of a professional club.

Rodger and Hudson have had a connection since the days of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NASL. One indication of Hudson's seriousness about the A-League effort is that he recently turned down an opportunity to become the television color commentator for the San Jose Earthquakes.

This apparently is the second time Rodger has explored the possibility of putting an A-League team in South Florida. This one might just have a chance of being successful. One of the biggest obstacles is the question of travel. Without another A-League team in Florida, a Fort Lauderdale based club would incur large travel expenses since the nearest A-League team is in Atlanta, with the next closest being in Charleston.

Rodger and other organizers of the game between the U.S. and Brazilian Under-20 national teams are hoping that D.C. United will release first-year pro Freddy Adu. It is likely that he will be allowed to join the U.S. squad, as he needs games since is has gone back to being a second-half reserve for D.C. United.

Last month Rodger organized two friendlies at Lockhart, which involved the U.S. U20s, and each drew in excess of 9,000 fans.

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2004 Florida All-State Soccer Teams

Douglas HS, winners of the Girls Class 6A state championship, also placed three players on the first team all-state team, all of whom are sophomores. The three 10th graders are defender Jackie Giffon,midfielder Brianna Schooley and forward Toni-Marie Hudson.

Boys All-State Teams

Girls All-State Teams

Boys All-State Teams
CLASS 6A
First Team
GK Chris Sedlak, Bloomingdale, Sr.
D/M Lyle Adams, Winter Park, Jr.
D Brian Cocciolo, Orange Park, Sr.
D Andres Osorio, Sunset, Sr.
M Dominic Cianciarulo, DeLand, Sr.
M Eric Gorden, Lake Mary, Sr.
M Martin Nunez, Sunset, Jr.
M Gordon Stasak, Lake Brantley, Sr.
M Kris Raad, Oviedo, Sr.
F Luis Perea, Sunset, Sr.
F Graham Zusi, Lake Brantley, Jr.
F Luis Campo, Cypress Bay, Sr.
F Lugens Cajuste, Douglas, Sr.
F Leo Souza, Coral Springs, Sr.
F Fabrice Noel, Palm Beach Lakes, Jr.

Second Team
GK Raul Meija, Wellington, Sr.
GK Lloyd Thurman, Orange Park, Sr.
D Lee Kornfeld, Wellington, Sr.
D Walter Morera, Varela, Jr.
D Ricky Herron, Piper, Sr.
M Gary Lewis, Orange Park, Jr.
M Frantz Francois, Palm Beach Lakes, Sr.
M Dennis Llama, Sunset, Sr.
M Felipe Castrillon, Cypress Bay, Sr.
M Bradley Rose, Western, Sr.
F Tom Davison, Bloomingdale, Sr.
F Jordan Begeman, Mandarin, Sr.
F Dennis Chin, Oviedo, Jr.
F Osmany Hernandez, Sunset, Sr.
F Christian Farese, Spruce Creek, Sr.

Honorable Mention
GK Robbie King, Winter Park, Sr.
GK Nicolas Lozano, Varela, Sr.
D Kent Sausaman, Buchholz, Sr.
D Chris Merritt, Mandarin, Soph.
D Naseem Aboul-Hosn, Lake Brantley, Sr.
D Luke Heldreth, Bloomingale, Sr.
D David Zettel, Durant, Sr.
D Lucas Rodriguez, Killian, Sr.
M Grant Novitske, Bloomingdale, Sr.
M/F Kenny Myers, Lake Mary, Sr.
M Joris Claessens, Lake Mary, Jr.
M Caleb Roberts, Plant City, Sr.
F Carlos Araujo Jr., Orlando Freedom, Jr.
F Judah Hernandez, West Orange, Jr.
F Alex Muniz, Bloomingdale, Jr.
F Joan Carvajal, Varela, Sr.
F Emerson Vado, Hialeah Miami Lakes, Sr.
F Tony Campos, Sarasota Riverview, Jr.
F Heber Hernandez, Miami Springs, Jr.

CLASS 5A
First Team
GK Colby West, Manatee, Jr.
D Mike Botelho, Nova, Sr.
D Jermaine Walters, Brandon, Jr.
D Mike Stanton, Seminole, Sr.
M Nick Bezer, Merritt Island, Sr.
M Tim McRae, Satellite, Sr.
M Trevor Scott, Gaither, Sr.
M Jake Howard, George Jenkins, Jr.
M Mason Hupp, Choctawhatchee, Sr.
M Michael Lally, Merritt Island, Sr.
F Juan Vargas, Nova, Sr.
F Richard Legg, Seminole, Jr.
F Jay Mainville, Fletcher, Sr.
F/M Chris Andaur, Barron Collier, Jr.

Second Team
GK Ian Levine, Fletcher, Sr.
GK Kyle Callahan, Lake Gibson, Jr.
D Mike Wolfel, Fletcher, Sr.
D Branden Pelletier, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
D Jari Betty, Nova, Sr.
M Justin Kramer, Satellite, Sr.
M Rodrigo Kaufman, Lake Howell, Sr.
M Kyle Urquhart, Seminole, Sr.
M Jeff Livingston, Palm Harbor, Sr.
M Matt Palardy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
M Morgan Riley, Seminole, Sr.
F Steven Whiteside, Palm Harbor, Sr.
F Angel Damian, Fort Pierce Central, Sr.
F Dario Grgic, Englewood, Sr.

Honorable Mention
GK Matt Smith, Merritt Island, Fr.
D Ricky Herron, Piper, Sr.
D Chaz Jansen, Sickles, Sr.
D Drew Ford, St. Petersburg, Sr.
D Ryan Ghidotti, Bartram Trail, Jr.
M Luis Quintero, Mariner, Sr.
M/F Mike DeAngelis, Mainland, Sr.
M Lance Nelson, Niceville, Sr.
M Johnny Nasser, Choctawhatchee, Sr.
M Nico San Juan, Venice, Sr.
M Luis Alva, Oakland Park Northeast, Soph.
M Tyler Destadio, Wharton, Sr.
F John Milhomme, Fort Myers, Sr.
F Ryan Villiard, Mitchell, Sr.
F Miguel Salomon, Nova, Soph.
F Hansen Woodruff, South Fork, Soph.
F Cristian Carassai, Venice, Sr.
F Mac Smith, St. Petersburg, Sr.
F Brian Shriver, Clearwater, Jr.

CLASS 4A
First Team
GK Thomas Fulton, Leon, Sr.
D Sean O'Hare, Lecanto, Sr.
D Peter McLean, Rockledge, Sr.
D Luke Sturgis, Nease, Sr.
D Chris Watz, Rockledge, Sr.
M Josh McKenna, Lecanto, Sr.
M Jason Villalba, Seminole Osceola, Jr.
M Devin Shaw, Springstead, Sr.
M Ryan Billings, Bishop Kenny, Jr.
F Eric Chaffiot, Rockledge, Sr.
F Kyle Davis, Lecanto, Sr.
F Ricky Morales, Leon, Sr.
F Tyler Story, Gulf Breeze, Sr.
F Novica Maric, Gulf, Jr.

Second Team
GK Patrick Lynch, Gulf Breeze, Sr.
D Jeremy Cox, Lecanto, Sr.
D Brandon Jones, Leon, Jr.
D Zach Whitson, Stanton, Sr.
M Jose del Valle, Forest Hill, Sr.
M Pascal Millian, Auburndale, Jr.
M Armante Marshall, Lincoln, Jr.
M Andres Pizarro, Palmetto, Sr.
M Richard Jata, Ridgewood, Sr.
F George Kirshy, Springstead, Sr.
F Mark Kaus, Rockledge, Sr.
F Ryan Hahn, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
F Nick Picaut, Seabreeze, Sr.
F Jeremy Ventura, Ocala Forest, Sr.

Honorable Mention
GK Eric Sisco, Rockledge, Sr.
GK Jacey Indihar, Seabreeze, Sr.
GK Kevin Schmittling, Ocala Forest, Sr.
GK Rickie Bose, Seminole Osceola, Sr.
D R.J. Capozza, Springstead, Sr.
D Kyle Munson, Springstead, Sr.
D Jose Hernandez, Forest Hill, Jr.
D/M Andrew Dickson, Boca Raton, Sr.
D Robert Hudson, Lincoln, Sr.
M Jeremy Myers, Washington, Sr.
M Stephen Malinda, Leesburg, Sr.
M Tony Barbieri, Suncoast, Sr.
M Ryan Johnson, Navarre, Jr.
M LaMarcus Brown, Ocala Forest, Sr
M Greg Eckhardt, Fleming Island, Fr.
F Allen Jones, Stanton, Jr.
F Andy Bryant, Nease, Sr.
F Robbie Bloom, Okeechobee, Sr.
F Kenji Stasiewicz, Gainesville, Sr.
F Jeremy Enix, Hudson, Jr.
F Kevin Rossi, Seabreeze, Jr.
F Patrick O'Conner, Gainesville, Jr.
F Tanner Wolfe, Ridgewood, Sr.

CLASS 3A
First Team
GK Ross Lane, Bishop Verot, Sr.
D Frankie Slater, Melbourne Central Catholic, Sr.
D/M Nick Kontaulas, Bishop Moore, Sr.
D Matt Brim, Bolles, Sr.
D Christian Benitez, American Heritage, Jr.
M Declain McGrory, Melbourne Central Catholic, Sr.
M Ryan Swaim, Bishop Verot, Sr.
M Christian Jerome, American Heritage, Jr.
M Alimer Gonzalez, Belen Jesuit, Sr.
M Phillip Calderon, Gulliver Sr.
F/M Scott Campbell, American Heritage, Jr.
F Xaviero Pecora, Tampa Jesuit, Soph.
F Troy Garside, Episcopal, Sr.
F Ricardo Atti, Pompano Beach, Sr.
F Steven Shea, Bishop Verot, Sr.

Second Team
GK Keith Meehan, Tampa Jesuit, Sr.
D Peter Zell, Bishop Verot, Sr.
D Pat Long, St. Pete Catholic, Sr.
D Zach Devault, Episcopal, Soph.
D Phillip Duret, Cardinal Mooney, Sr.
M Alex Mentel, Bolles, Jr.
M Chad Dalton, Tampa Jesuit, Soph.
M Sergio Munoz, American Heritage, Jr.
M Stephen Middaugh, Melbourne Central Catholic, Jr.
F Carlos Ortega, Belen Jesuit, Sr.
F Sefton Kincaid, Lake Highland, Sr.
F Danny Vazquez, Gulliver, Sr.
F David Garcia, Pensacola Catholic, Sr.
F Wifredo Fernandez, Ransom Everglades, Jr.
F Miquel DaSilva, American Heritage, Soph.

Honorable Mention
GK Kristian Gonzalez, Gulliver, Sr.
D Jantzen Liscoe, Pensacola Catholic, Jr.
D Chris Marhefka, Pope John Paul II, Sr.
M/F Florian Tillie, Ocala West Port, Sr.
M/F Ryan Ball, Bishop Moore, Sr.
M Chase Decker, Bolles, Soph.
M John Bello, Cardinal Mooney, Jr.
M Marcus Amorim, Monarch, Jr.
M Trey McEntee, Pope John Paul II, Soph.
M Luis Piedad, Hardee County, Sr.
F Yudi Ramirez, Alachua Santa Fe, Soph.
F Michael Bowen, Suwannee, Sr.
F Chad Hapner, Keystone Heights, Sr.
F Steve Howell, Cardinal Newman, Sr.
F John Crowley, Taylor County, Jr.
F Matthew Skonicki, St. Pete. Catholic, Soph.

CLASS 2A
First Team
GK Robbie Waked, Trinity Prep, Sr.
D/M Rob Goossens, King's Academy, Sr.
D Kevin Sachs, Berkeley Prep, Sr.
D/M Warley Leroy, American Heritage-Delray, Sr.
M Alejandro Melean, Palmer Trinity, Jr.
M Emilio Urrea, Palmer Trinity, Sr.
M/F Gabe Taboada, American Heritage-Delray, Soph.
M Demitri Arnaoutakis, Berkeley Prep, Sr.
F Tyler Davis, Berkeley Prep, Jr.
F Scott Strickland, Berkeley Prep, Jr.
F Alex Wilkes, Evangelical Christian, Sr.
F Daniel Johnson, American Heritage-Delray, Sr.

Second Team
GK Andrew McAdams, Berkeley Prep, Soph.
D Andrew Greenberg, Miami Country Day Sr.
D Taylor Bucholz, Father Lopez, Sr.
D Alex Hug, Berkeley Prep, Sr.
M/F Juan Estrada, Pierson Taylor, Sr.
M/F Michael Doudney, Orangewood Christian, Sr.
F Michael Kelly, Jax. Providence, Jr.
F Mikkel Stone, Father Lopez, Sr.
F Paulo Ribiero, Florida Christian, Sr.
F Bastian Broda, Miami Country Day, Sr.
F Daniel Brown, Jax. Providence, Jr.

Honorable Mention
GK Matt Lynch, Benjamin, Soph.
D Brian Fess, Father Lopez, Soph.
D Tucker Bengoa, Ocala Trinity Cath. Jr.
D Quentin Davy, Jax. Providence, Sr.
M/F Keith Fernandez, Trinity Prep, Soph.
M Jay Breig, King's Academy, Sr.
F Joel Jezequel, Miami Westminster, Soph.
F Ben Kunkle, P.K. Yonge, Sr.
F Brigham Oliver, Ocala St. John, Sr.
F/M Justin Buchanan, Tampa Prep, Sr.
F/M Kevin Karpay, Tampa Prep, Sr.
F Kyle Cordell, Ocala Trinity Cath., Jr.
F Doug Tart, Winter Haven All Saints Academy, Sr.

Girls All-State Teams
CLASS 6A
First Team
GK Natalie Haerens, Lake Mary, Sr.
D Kori Hoelscher, Wellington, Sr.
D Jackie Giffon, Douglas, Soph.
D Lauryn Oser, Bloomingdale, Sr.
D Lyndsay Segarra, Miami Palmetto, Jr.
D Melanie Sutherland, Edgewater, Jr.
M/D Stacey George, Winter Springs, Sr.
M Megan Upchurch Spruce Creek, Sr.
M Autumn Browning, Winter Park, Sr.
M Christie Ashton, Lake Brantley, Sr.
M Brianna Schooley, Douglas, Soph.
F/M Vanessa Perez, John I. Leonard, Sr.
F Alicia Tirelli, Durant, Sr.
F Toni-Marie Hudson, Douglas, Soph.
F Nikita Waller, Douglas, Sr.
F Holly Peltzer, Lake Mary, Sr.

Second Team
GK Megan Teague, Mandarin, Fr.
GK Jessie Gardner, Sarasota Riverview, Sr.
D Raelynn Wapinsky, Durant, Sr.
D Caitlin Turpel, Spanish River, Sr.
D Tiffany Dennison, Taravella, Sr.
D Courtney O'Brien, Olympic Heights, Sr.
M Vikki Richardson, Cypress Bay, Sr.
M Marie Hastings, Buchholz, Sr.
M Vanessa Church, Mandarin, Jr.
M Molly Johnson, Martin County, Jr.
F Ebony Robinson, Winter Park, Jr.
F Gabi Rivera, Durant, Soph.
F Stephanie Day, Palmetto, Soph.
F Sarah Hirst, Spruce Creek, Jr.
F Brandi Garcia, American, Sr.
F Kim Newsome, Apopka, Soph.

Honorable Mention
GK Fiorella Lanfranco, Palmetto, Jr.
GK Megan Bowers, Durant, Jr.
GK Kim Diaz, Olympic Heights, Soph.
D Kristin Hurst, Varela, Sr.
D Stephanie Oliver, Mandarin, Jr.
D Amanda Diego, Sunset, Jr.
D Casey Zook, Buchholz, Jr.
M Erica Barenbaum, Taravella, Sr.
M Lindsay Topetcher, Edgewater, Jr.
M Elizabeth Gowan, Martin County, Jr.
M Courtney Evans, DeLand, Jr.
M Bridgette Wightman, Durant, Sr.
M/F Danielle Telleria, Winter Springs, Sr.
M Meagan Cook, American, Sr.
M Michelle Casadevall, Varela, Soph.
F/D Casey Cleary, Wellington, Jr.
F Jennifer Taylor, Apopka, Soph.
F Jeri Ostuw, Spruce Creek, Sr.
F Sofia Frayle, Varela, Sr.
F Maria Perdomo, Miami Beach, Fr.
F Brittney Evans, DeLand, Jr.
F Daniela Davila, Bloomingdale, Sr.
F Katie Arnheim, Edgewater, Jr.
F Taylor Fuentes, Western, Soph.

CLASS 5A
First Team
GK Ashlyn Harris, Satellite, Sr.
GK Shannon Aitken, Land O'Lakes, Sr.
D Michelle Carlson, Eau Gallie, Jr.
D Colleen Deignan, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
D Jessica Gagnon, Land O'Lakes, Sr.
M Sarah Fetters, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
M Cathleen Cimino, Satellite, Sr.
M Arielle Orr, Palm Harbor Univ., Sr.
M Julie Mushill, Eau Gallie, Sr.
M Jessica Anzevino, Hillsborough, Sr.
F Dora Tapia, South Fork, Sr.
F Brittney Marriott, Satellite, Jr.
F Jennifer Boykin, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
F Sage Sizemore, Mariner, Sr.
F Ali Bolles, Fletcher, Sr.
F Bianca Gibbs, Mariner, Sr.

Second Team
GK Keeli Cahalan, Countryside, Sr.
GK Maren Dale, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
GK Emily Fedeles, Hllsborough, Sr.
D Jeannette Dyer, Mariner, Sr.
D Christy McCool, Niceville, Sr.
M Erin Hopkins, Lake Region, Jr.
M Katie Kennedy, Niceville, Sr.
M Jessica Eicken, Lakewood Ranch, Soph.
M Elsa Kurlychek, Land O'Lakes, Jr.
M Patty Spielman, Eau Gallie, Sr.
M Amanda Stone, Fort Walton Beach, Sr.
M Grace Weatherford, Land O'Lakes, Jr.
F Kaylyn Smith, Palm Harbor Univ., Sr.
F Jennifer Hays, Fletcher, Sr.
F Kate Slaughter, Mitchell, Sr.
F Annie Stalzer, Palm Harbor Univ., Soph.

Honorable Mention
GK Leslie Reed, Satellite, Jr.
GK Katie Cochran, South Fork, Soph.
GK Katy Appleman, Fletcher, Sr.
D Hannah Brickse, Manatee, Fr.
D Judith Ospina, Lakewood Ranch, Sr.
D Ashley Lawson, Cooper City, Jr.
D Casey Smith, East Bay, Sr.
D Rachel Helwig, George Jenkins, Jr.
M Caitlin Miskel, St. Thomas Aquinas, Soph.
M Jodi Galluci, South Fork, Soph.
M Brittany Pilon, Barron Collier, Fr.
M Zarmena Kasparites, Mariner, Sr.
F Chelsea Brady, Eau Gallie, Fr.
F Caitlin Farrell, Cypress Lake, Soph.
F Casey Landemann, Flagler Palm Coast, Fr.
F Katelin Swift, Bartram Trail, Soph.
F Kristin Cocchiarella, Niceville, Jr.
F Lauren Halbert, Niceville, Fr.
F Kiley Keelin, Fort Walton Beach, Jr.

CLASS 4A
First Team
GK Andi Mohl, Suncoast, Jr.
D Lura Carter, Leon, Jr.
D Janeke Simpkins, Suncoast, Sr.
D Shea Hickey, Stanton, Sr.
M Mary Kate Towne, Suncoast, Sr.
M Paige Beyer, Tarpon Springs, Sr.
M Jenny Miller, Gulf Breeze, Jr.
M Libby Gianeskis, Tarpon Springs, Sr.
F/M Ashley Harris, Suncoast, Sr.
F Lindsay Brauer, Seabreeze, Sr.
F Ashlyn McGregor, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

Second Team
GK Anna Wells, Leon, Jr.
D Erin Theobald, Chiles, Jr.
D Jamie Silverberg, Nease, Soph.
M Danielle Joyce, Newsome, Jr.
M Emily Wood, Leon, Jr.
F/M Kristy Moore, Seabreeze, Jr.
F Colleen Minta, Bishop Kenny, Soph.
F Rachel Devlin, Titusville, Soph.
F Nicolette Vincent, Boca Raton, Sr.
F Bree Dove, Chiles, Jr.
F Kristin Burton, Forest, Soph.

Honorable Mention
GK Jenny Manis, Washington, Sr.
GK Sarah Taylor, Ocala Vanguard, Sr.
GK Alexia Berg, Tarpon Springs, Sr.
D Tiffany Vega, Ridgewood, Sr.
D Jenn Velie, Seabreeze, Jr.
D Abby Williams, Belleview, Soph.
D Casey Plastek, Newsome, Fr.
M Tiffany Urquhart, Seabreeze, Jr.
M Leila Tageri, Bartow, Sr.
M Lauren Strebler, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
M Kelly Tarrant, Woodham, Sr.
M Jordan Bryant, Chiles, Sr.
M Nikki Lombardo, Nease, Soph.
M Liz Dantzler, Winter Haven, Jr.
F Amaka Ofauni, Lincoln, Soph.
F Becky Patterson, Leon, Sr.
F Liz Theurer, Eastside, Soph.
F Whitney Hudson, Fernandina Beach, Soph.
F Lyndsi Stricklen, Ridgeview, Jr.
F Holly Cauthen, Leesburg, Sr.
F Shawnna Rocklein, Lemon Bay, Jr.
F Bryn Jazombe, Celebration, Soph.
F Caitlyn McCutcheon, Lourdes, Sr.

CLASS 3A
FIRST TEAM
GK Jean Worts, American Heritage, Soph.
D Dana Merrill, Melbourne Central Catholic, Jr.
D Ali Giusto, American Heritage, Soph.
D Anne-Marie Zahra, Bolles, Sr.
M Allie Rosenbloom, Melbourne Central Catholic, Soph.
M Ashley Mannarino, Pope John Paul, Jr.
M Katie Jones, Episcopal, Sr.
M Caroline Bashore, Melbourne Central Catholic, Sr.
F Jane Alukonis, Melbourne Central Catholic, Jr.
F Caitlin Mason, Bishop Moore, Jr.
F Jenna Stevens, Pope John Paul, Jr.
F Jami Pass, Pasco, Jr.
F Shurrell Burton, West Shore, Jr.

Second Team
GK Jessica Lewis, Lake Highland Prep, Sr.
D Marie Calalang, Bishop Moore, Sr.
D Karissa Jensen, American Heritage, Soph.
M Jenna Levenson, St. Andrew's, Sr.
M Anna Greskovich, Pensacola Catholic, Jr.
M Melissa Saint James, Lake Highland, Jr.
M Elanna Brady, American Heritage, Jr.
F Kerry Kartsonis, Episcopal, Fr.
F Lydia Jones, Melbourne Central Catholic, Jr.
F Carolynn DelMoral, Cardinal Gibbons, Sr.
F Heather Dooley, American Heritage, Fr.
F Melissa Kelly, LaBelle, Jr.
F Angie Kuhn, Bishop Verot, Fr.
F DeAnne Fanta, Tavares, Sr.

Honorable Mention
D Katie Spilman, Episcopal, Sr.
D Caitlin Greskovich, Pensacola Catholic, Fr.
D Jennifer Misiewicz, Cardinal Mooney, Sr.
M Kelley Nugent, Cardinal Gibbons, Soph.
M Lindsay Moore, Tampa Catholic, Sr.
M Ella Stefan, West Shore, 8th
M Tanya Kivitt, Dunnellon, Sr.
M Angii Francis-Verbeelen, Keystone Heights, Jr.
M Lisa Babcock, Hernando, Soph.
M Erin Doyle, LaSalle, Sr.
M Val Blanco, Gulliver, Jr.
M Katie Horvath, Cardinal Gibbons, Soph.
F Ashley Harris, Suwannee, Fr.
F Whitney Carroll, Mulberry, Sr.
F Kaytie Casanova, Archbishop McCarthy, Sr.
F Heather Walton, Gulliver, Soph.

CLASS 2A
First Team
GK Rachel Miller, Orangewood Chr., Sr.
D Tonya Uber, Delray-American Heritage, Jr.
D Elizabeth Dukes, St. Johns Country Day, Sr.
D/M Lizzie Paulus, Oak Hall, Sr.
M Monique Cabrera, King's Academy, Sr.
M Kalie Estrada, Lakeland Christian, Jr.
F/M Amanda Martorana, St. Johns Country Day, Fr.
F Caitlyn Eubanks, Ft. Lauderdale Westminster, Soph.
F Molly Anderson, Delray-American Heritage, Jr.
F Laura Renfro, Holy Trinity, Soph.
F Laura Bowers, Lakeland Christian, Jr.

Second Team
GK Jasmine Theodoris, Miami Country Day, Jr.
D Nikki Lanza, Berkeley Prep, Sr.
D Jamie Maitland, Ft. Lauderdale Westminster, Sr.
M Chelsea Hatcher, Berkeley Prep, 8th
M Lindsay Matern, Lakeland Christian, Fr.
M Jazmin Turcotte, Delray-American Heritage, Jr.
M Karalyn Magoletti, Ft. Lauderdale Westminster, Soph.
F Taylor Harlan, Miami Country Day, Fr.
F Michele Lavine, St. Johns Country Day, Jr.
F Nicole Farrell, Delray-American Heritage, Soph.
F Glenn Spielman, Father Lopez, Sr.

Honorable Mention
D Michelle Tarasuik, Dade Christian, Fr.
D Sara Mendoza, Rocky Bayou, Sr.
M/F Shelly Lyle, Cambridge School, Sr.
M Caitlin Riston, Carrollton, Sr.
F Leigh Jackson, Maclay, Sr.
F Mariana Foley, Palmer Trinity, Jr.
F Sunshine Fielder, Ocala Trinity Cath., Soph.
F Danielle Paglia, Ocala Trinity Cath., Fr.
F/M Nadine Bernier, P.K. Yonge, Sr.

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Fitzgerald Returns To University of Tampa

The University of Tampa men's soccer program got a holiday present a couple of weeks late this year, but it was a good one!

Tom Fitzgerald, who led UCLA to the 2002 men's NCAA Division I championship, has resigned to become head coach at University of Tampa.

Fitzgerald, 52, is from Tampa and coached UT from 1987-1995, leading his team to the Division II national championship in 1994. He was coach of the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer from 1996-2001 with the club compiling a 70-67-7 record and finishing second in the 1998 U.S. Open Cup.

"While my wife, Debi, and I will cherish our experience at UCLA forever, and will take only great memories with us to our next challenge, we miss our family, and we have an intense desire and obligation to spend more time with them," Fitzgerald said.

In his two seasons at UCLA, Fitzgerald led the Bruins to a 38-5-4 (.851) mark -- 20-2-1 in 2003 -- and a pair of Pac-10 championships. After taking the 2002 national title, UCLA was ranked No. 1 for most of 2003 and was the top seed in the NCAA tournament before falling at home to eventual champion Indiana 2-1 in the quarterfinals. The Bruins' 15-game winning streak before the loss to Indiana was the second longest in school history and the 0.52 goals-against average for 2003 tied the school best.
With the 2002 crown, Fitzgerald became the first coach to win the NCAA championship in his first season at a particular level. He also ranks as just the third coach in history to win collegiate championships in both Division I and Division II.

"Tom has had a tremendous positive impact on our program, both on and off the field, during his short time at UCLA," said UCLA athletic director Dan GuerreroDan Guerrero. "He will be tremendously missed, but we understand his reasons and respect his feelings that his family comes first."

Fitzgerald's composite college coaching record is 170-37-15 (.800).
"His appointment returns the University of Tampa to instant credibility as a national contender in NCAA II men’s soccer, but it’s also great to add such a well-liked and respected individual to our institution," Tampa director of athletics Larry MarfiseLarry Marfise said.

Fitzgerald replaces Dawson Driscoll who resigned in November with three games left in the regular season, his second at UT.The Spartants finished at 9-7-3. Assistant Maurice Loregnard served as interim coach, leading the team to a 2-2 record including a first-round loss to St. Leo in the Sunshine State Conference tournament. Loregnardf will be considered as a possible assistant to Fitzgerald.

"I've been following Tampa's progression since I left there for the MLS," Fitzgerald told Associated Press. "After watching the Spartans fall out of national contention the past two years, I feel a sense of loyalty to put UT back on track."

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Florida Rallies For Four Goals To Advance

Junior striker Ashley Kellgren's second consecutive NCAA tournament golden goal capped # 7 Florida's rally from three goals down to a 4-3 triumph over Mississippi before 1,223 who witnessed the thrilling second-round match at Percy Beard Stadium.

Senior midfielder Megan MacMillan scored twice as Florida (18-3-2) found net three times in nine minutes after trailing its Southeastern Conference rival 3-0 with 29 minutes remaining. It marked the first time the Gators won this season after trailing at intermission.

Florida will host another SEC foe, Tennessee, Saturday in the Round of 16. Tennessee (17-4-2) defeated the Gators 7-6 in a penalty-kicks tiebreaker last Sunday after a 1-1 draw in the SEC tournament final. The Volunteers also won the regular-season meeting 2-0 October 10 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Florida coach Becky Burleigh reached a milestone with her 250th victory, compiling a 250-61-16 (.789) in nine years with the Gators and five years at Berry College in Georgia. "What a terrific match. It had enough drama for four games," she said. "It was very exciting. I think I aged 20 years. It's a real testament to our team that we were able to come back from 3-0 against a team which allows very few goals."

With a second and final 10-minute overtime period nearing end and penalty kicks looming, freshman defender Melanie Booth sent a high, bending ball into the box that found the feet of Kellgren who knocked it past senior goalkeeper Brittany Gillespie for the climatic 4-3 ending at 106:50.

Two days earlier, Kellgren scored in a second sudden-death period to beat Central Florida 3-2 in the first round.

"We definitely had the momentum going into overtime," Kellgren said. "There was no way we were going to lose after coming back from three goals down."

Eight minutes after Mississippi (15-6-2) went ahead 3-0, Kellgren found senior midfielder Robin Fulton streaking down the middle of the Rebel defense. Eight yards out, Fulton triggered a shot that beat Gillespie to make it 3-1 with 61:14 elapsed.