Though new to state-sanctioned soccer and with no home field, Hernando Christian is unbeaten.
By JOHN SCHWARB
Published September 21, 2003
Hernando Christian has no home field, no opponents within less than a half-hour bus ride and not much in terms of experience coming off the bench.
And so far, no worries.
Through the first two weeks of the season the Lions have not only competed but excelled in their inaugural season of state-sanctioned fall soccer, enough to allow their coach to think of lofty goals.
"I really expect us to win the majority of the rest of our games," coach Ryan Temple said. "I couldn't be happier."
Such optimism has come easily with a 2-0-2 start, including two come-from-behind ties last week against district opponents. In those four games, Hernando Christian also has allowed just three goals.
The team's mix on paper appeared to be a combustible one, with a number of juniors and eighth-graders. But the young players are unfazed in games after practicing all this time with upperclassmen, and the older players are holding their own.
Andrew Holtzhouse, a junior, leads the team with seven goals and sophomore Tyler Peterson has five . The Lions scored six goals in each of their first two games and defense has led the way in the last two.
The goalkeeper, of course, has to be outstanding for the defense to be considered excellent. The Lions appear to have that kind of top-shelf keeper in Jesse Mangracina, a junior playing the position for the first time.
"I tried out every person on the team for the position (in preseason) and he got the job," Temple said. "He has the feel for a keeper."
Whether the team can really survive a long season that includes all road games is still a valid question. Temple has noticed some lulls at the start of games after the long bus rides and at Mount Dora Bible and Seven Rivers the Lions fell behind.
Yet in both they came back and salvaged ties.
"When they wake up they can beat a team, it just takes a while," Temple said.
What isn't taking a while is the implementation of a winning attitude.
"We want to win the district. That's my goal for the first year," Temple said. "Several teams we play have a long history of soccer, our team has never had that kind of image.
"We're trying to create that."
- John Schwarb can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to schwarb@sptimes.com[Last modified September 21, 2003, 02:03:13]
