Starting five sophomores and two freshmen, Seminole defeats Clearwater and its five starting freshmen 5-0.
By LAURA LEE
Published December 19, 2003
SEMINOLE - Clearwater and Seminole, both young squads, showed their age at times Thursday. But the Warhawks outplayed the Tornadoes for a 5-0 victory.
Clearwater started five freshmen and the Warhawks five sophomores and two freshmen. Both started just one senior.
And though the score might imply a game dominated by the Warhawks, it often was an awkward battled at midfield. The teams fought for balls that stuttered over the field. The times Seminole got the upper hand, it created chances to score.
Sophomore Danielle Celmer scored twice for the Warhawks. She took a corner kick in the fourth minute, bending it over freshman goalie Katie Ferris. Celmer scored again just before the first half ended, fielding a cross from sophomore Regan Riley and putting it in.
In between Celmer's goals, Riley knocked in a header off of a corner kick from Celmer in the 32nd minute.
Seminole (8-4-1) has played without one of its key players, senior Rachel Jolley. Jolley, a dominant player in the midfield, tore her ACL at the beginning of the month during the final seconds of a game against Largo. Celmer has taken Jolley's place and is playing strong, Seminole coach Steve Kuplicki said.
Sophomore Leah Hatfield scored early in the second half, and junior Kathleen Pollard made it 5-0.
While the Warhawks offense was clicking, the defense did its job as well, holding the Tornadoes to one shot.
"We put new players in our defense, and our defense has come together," Celmer said.
Clearwater coach Robert Lucio, who headed Clearwater's junior varsity team last season, said he's happy with his team. Clearwater (3-4) won just one game last season and is on its fifth coach in as many seasons. "I just want my girls to get better every game," Lucio said. "Seminole is a good team, and I thought my girls played hard."
This was both teams' last game before winter break. In January, Seminole starts with a game against St. Petersburg while the Tornadoes face East Lake.
