One-win season, including injuries and coaching change, gets a bit better in game vs. Ridgewood.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published December 11, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - Consider all that Gulf has endured: 1-10 so far this season, an eight-game losing streak, second-year coach Todd Rivers let go after seven games, a back injury that kept new coach Shari Schau off the field for her first two games, and the loss of talented freshman Nicole June to injury Monday. That game was a mercy-rule loss, too.
Losing 2-0 to visiting Ridgewood on Wednesday night doesn't seem so bad now, does it?
"It was a very good effort," said Schau, who took over Dec.1. "I was very happy with the effort considering what we've had to go through."
The Bucs were fortunate in this Class 4A, District 10 and Sunshine Athletic Conference match-up that the Rams still are tuning up their offense. Ridgewood dominated, spending so much time in front of Gulf's net the Rams could have homesteaded W.D. "Des" Little Stadium. But only 33 of Ridgewood's 35 shot attempts hit home. Junior midfielder Kristina Kell's pass split two defenders, and junior Patty Racener scored on a 12-footer in the 19th minute. Racener led the Rams with 10 attempts at the net.
The second goal was the first American score for Norwegian exchange student Ida Ihler, who launched a smooth 18-footer to the far post, hitting the back corner of the net in the 73rd minute. But, otherwise, Ridgewood (4-5, 4-1 4A-10, 4-4 SAC) flailed about in the second half, as shots flew left, right and over the net.
"We've been shuffling some people around in our alignments," Rams coach John Herig said. "We've played nine games, and we've had seven different alignments. To try and find that offensive production, we're trying to bounce people around to see who can get the ball in the back of the net."
Credit Gulf sophomore goalkeeper Amber Rodriguez with surviving that second-half barrage, finishing with 17 saves. But Ridgewood keeper Nicole Smith made the plays of the game at the end of the first half. The junior made five straight saves at point-blank range as the Bucs tried to tie it in a last-second flurry of shots before the half expired.
"They held us to 1-0 at the half, and that's an excellent game," Herig said. "They had opportunities against us. Before the half it should have been 1-1."
Schau is just happy her team is improving. "The kids have been through a lot this season. They're just trying to get better with each game, and go from there."
