Central fights to overcome adversity

Tim Woods was frustrated.

In a game he wanted to win more desperately than any this season, his Central team was down 1-0, playing poorly and his only outlet was to commit a senseless foul that put him on the sideline next to coach Robert Hoki.

Woods then lashed out at a teammate he thought was not paying attention to the game, and had to lobby to be allowed back on the field in an eventual 2-0 loss to Ridgewood that dropped the Bears' record to 1-4-1.

As Central grappled Wednesday with the death of teammate Eric Walasek's father, Steve, Woods remained in a personal struggle to help be the cohesive force the squad lost with the graduation of the program's best player, Sean O'Sullivan.

It has not been easy.

"I think the problem is the kids haven't decided who will replace Sean O'Sullivan," Hoki said.

"Tim is trying to step up and fill that role from a play standpoint as well as a vocal standpoint. I think he feels the pressure (that) he needs to be the guy to replace Sean," Hoki said. "Once he gets that sorted out, I think he will play a lot better than he has been."

Woods, a senior, admitted his frustration after the Bears' recent success under former coach John Andruss. Woods apologized to his team after the game for his outburst.

"You try so hard, and you want everyone else to try just as hard with you," Woods said. "You put in all the time, and it gets real frustrating. They give it all they have, but they have to listen.

"I can see what they're doing wrong, so when I try to tell them if they adjust and let each other know what's happening, we're going to be a better team."

Woods blamed a lack of preparation from Central's experienced players as much as meshing with newcomers for the slow start.

"We didn't give the effort in the offseason -- none of us, including myself -- that we should have" Woods said. "We're still not getting that great an effort.

"It seemed like (the high school season) came around too quick and we were all like, "Yeah, I'll be there,' and we just -- with club soccer -- got caught up in that.

"Once we keep going as a team and play together more, things will come together," he said. "We have enough talent at each position to be a really great team."

SPRINGSTEAD BOYS: Battling high-caliber competition in the Palm Harbor Tournament thrust one point home for Eagles coach Sal Calabrese: you have to play a full game against better teams.

"Every match it can't be 60 or 70 minutes," Calabrese said. "Playing against a Palm Harbor or a Seminole, it has be a full 80 or maybe 100."

Springstead opened the tourney with a 3-0 loss to Countryside before beating Wharton 2-0 and Mitchell 5-0.

Springstead (5-2-1) was to play Seminole for fifth place on Thursday night.

"We played well with Countryside," Calabrese said. "They scored three goals in about a seven-minute span, and (goalkeeper) Dan (Calabrese) should have had two of them.

"We did well," the coach said. "I use that game as a measuring stick to see how we did."

Senior midfielder Greg Emmerman, who had two goals and two assists in the tournament, leads the Eagles with six goals and five assists.

CENTRAL GIRLS: Despite losing their starting goalkeeper in the first half of the season's opening game, the Bears have flourished with a 3-1-1 record.

Central was undefeated until allowing a goal in the final minute of a 3-2 loss to Ridgewood on Wednesday.

All three of Central's wins were 1-0.

"Our defense has been playing very well," Bears coach Hank Deslaurier said. "Especially since we've been banged up a little bit. At some point, every midfielder has been out."

Kim Brown played all but the first half of a 1-1 tie against Lecanto after starter Natasha Cabrera hurt her knee.

"It's nice to have a keeper step in and do well in that situation," Deslaurier said.

-- Staff writer Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to brant@sptimes.com .

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright