A 5-0 loss to Hudson ends the Rams' unbeaten string and illustrates how little separates the best handful of teams in the county.
By STEVE LEE
Published January 14, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - The last of the county's unbeatens fell Friday when Hudson shut out Ridgewood 5-0.
But in a season of underdogs pulling off upsets, the Cobras' celebration was short-lived.
On Monday, Hudson lost to Mitchell, which has lost to Ridgewood. Hudson also has lost to River Ridge, which lost twice to Ridgewood.
Got that?
That's okay, county coaches seem just as perplexed.
"Go figure it out," River Ridge coach Steve Doyle said. "I think that there's a lot of talent on a lot of teams out there."
"That's my team, up and down," Hudson coach Ron Ladimir said.
Hudson's win over the Rams, backed by two goals from Jeremy Enix, avenged a 2-1 loss in the other meeting this season.
"It just proves that we can play when we want to," Ladimir said.
Balanced scoring is the watchword for the Cobras. Enix leads with 10 goals, Will Smith and Tim Cook have eight and Donald Truckenbrod and Matt Edelman each have five.
Hudson's 41 goals match the season total of Gulf forward Novica Maric. Maric's brother, Alec, scored 44 for Gulf in 2001-02 and Gulf coach Sam Koleduk owns the school record of 45, set in 1985-86. Both marks could fall when the Bucs (8-6-2) host Tarpon Springs at 8 tonight.
Hudson (9-4-2) gave Ridgewood (14-1-1) a lesson in humility, according to Rams coach Ed McComiskey.
"My guys, their attitude was maybe a little bit too sure of themselves," McComiskey said. "We need to learn from it and make some adjustments and start over.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't like to lose, but it's good to lose now rather than when you get to the district championship."
Only Ridgewood had a longer unbeaten streak than Mitchell this season. The fourth-year Mustangs, who did not win a game until their second season, are 6-1-5. They have matched last season's school record for wins.
Mitchell's 4-1 win over Hudson on Monday, paced by Andrew Dematos' two goals, gives it a modest two-game win streak and comes after a 1-1-1 week.
"Every time we go out we expect to win," Mitchell coach Pio Rizzo said.
Ryan Villiard, who leads the Mustangs with 21 goals, and J.D. Barksdale also scored against Hudson.
Wesley Chapel (9-4-3) is another team on the verge of breaking a school record for victories. The Wildcats, who had a school-record 10 wins last season, host Ridgewood tonight at 8.
"I don't feel we have to beat them, but I think we can," Wesley Chapel coach Brian Dorkowski said of facing the Rams. "We're right there with them."
Ridgewood's loss to Hudson does not come as a surprise to Dorkowski, but the victory margin is another story.
"I was thinking that Gulf, or my team, or Hudson could beat Ridgewood," Dorkowski said, "but not in that dominating fashion."
Ridgewood has two close wins - 5-4 and 2-1 - over Wesley Chapel this season.
Unlike the past two games against the Rams, the Wildcats will be somewhat shorthanded this time. Junior forward Joe Berenguer, second on the team in scoring with 13 goals, and freshman defender Louis Ortiz are academically ineligible and lost for the season.
Midfielder Gabe Montelongo leads the Wildcats with 19 goals and Jose Arroyo, who has eight, will be counted on to contribute more offensively.
Berenguer also shared some time in the net with Scott St. George, who becomes the full-time starting keeper.
