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He never surrendered

CCC's Ted Anderson played full-throttle for 80 minutes every time he took the field.

By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 27, 2002

To know Ted Anderson the soccer player, one needs only to view the videotape from Clearwater Central Catholic's Class A state semifinal game against Orlando Lake Highland Prep.

Anderson is No. 25, which his opponents found out quickly, as in "Who's got 25?," or "Somebody watch 25." Or simply "25! 25!"

The defining moment came 16 minutes into the game. Anderson chased down a loose ball that appeared destined to cross the right end line. Lake Highland's defender let up, but Anderson never lets up.

He sprinted to the ball just before it crossed the line, slid feet first to save it, hopped to his feet and crossed the ball 10 yards in front of the goal mouth. Teammate Joey Ijjas was there for the header and the game's first goal.

Anderson later scored a goal of his own and CCC went on to win 2-0. Two days later, the Marauders won the state title over Plantation American Heritage.

"That goal, that's Ted Anderson," CCC coach Jim Harte said. "That was the best goal of the year."

Anderson finished the season with 21 goals and seven assists. He had a goal and two assists in the state semifinal and final.

Anderson knows only one way to play, whether it's a regular-season game against Indian Rocks Christian or the state final -- full-throttle for 80 minutes.

Harte uses a system that relies on liberal substitution. With plenty of talented players, Harte is able to freely substitute, especially when the Marauders take an early lead.

But Anderson rarely comes off. He's adept at playing both defense and offense. And he's one of those players who never seems to tire.

"I have an attacking mentality," Anderson said. "I play forward for my club team (Tampa Bay Kickers) and then midfield for high school. I like being around the ball."

And Harte likes having him on the field.

Anderson played junior varsity as a freshman, but he cracked the starting lineup his sophomore year.

"If you just had guys show up in shorts and a T-shirt for a pickup game, Ted Anderson is the first guy you would choose," Harte said. "There's no doubt that he's the best guy on the field."

Anderson has been a soccer player since he was six years old. He has had little time for anything else. Club season gives way to high school season, then club season begins again. There are holiday tournaments and spring break tournaments.

But Anderson is a soccer junkie, so he doesn't mind at all.

"Some people get burned out by it, but not me," he said. "I love to play soccer. I want to play it in college. I want to play it as long as I can."

This fall, Anderson will add football to his resume.

CCC football coach John Davis saw Anderson walking the halls and recruited him to play in the secondary.

Even though he's never put on pads before, Anderson is going through spring drills and will suit up for the Marauders in the fall.

"I figured I'd give it a try," Anderson said.

There's no guarantee football season will end like soccer season with a state championship and a rally in the school gymnasium.

Anderson said this season the soccer team was focused on only one thing.

"That's all we talked about," Anderson said. "We had a lot of seniors on this team and that helped get us through.

"We never took any game lightly."

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