After losing in last year's final four, the seven senior starters are united in a championship drive.
By LAURA LEE
Published February 20, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - If Alexia Berg could, she'd add a little more time to the high school soccer season, extend it a week or two more so the thrill of playing with some of her closest friends wouldn't be over quite yet.
"I just want to keep the season going as long as possible," said Berg, the goalkeeper of the Tarpon Springs High School girls soccer team.
But Berg and the rest of the Spongers' season will end this weekend in the Class 4A state final four. Today, Tarpon plays Tallahassee Leon (20-4-3) in the state semifinals at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. If the Spongers win, they will play in the state championship game Saturday against the winner of Riviera Beach Suncoast versus Daytona Beach Seabreeze.
Although Tarpon (18-3-0) advanced to the state final four last season, this time it's a little different. Seven seniors start: Whitney Gause, Paige Beyer, Ashley Jeffris, Jordan Beyer, Kaitlyn Dassat, Libby Gianeskis and Berg. That means more than half of this year's team won't be back next season.
Coach John Freiermuth has let it be known this will probably be Tarpon's best chance at winning a state title for some time, and he thinks this is the lineup that can do it.
"It's not just one or two girls, just the combination of all of them," Freiermuth said.
Junior Brandi Bianco said she has thought about being left alone to rebuild next season and has made an extra effort to win this year.
"Honestly, I felt it was going to be the last time I was going to play with them and I decided to step it up," Bianco said. "All of the balls have been handed to me by these girls. Without them, I would be struggling a lot."
Freiermuth, who took over coaching the girls team last season, said he's amazed by his "super seniors." They all have grade point averages higher than 3.0 and, like most of the team, they all do volunteer work in the community. Several are going to college on athletic and academic scholarships.
On the field, Freiermuth said they've been good leaders, holding their own team meetings to unite everyone in the effort to return to the state semifinals.
"They always seemed concerned about the other kids on the team. I've never seen a group of kids that are that unique," Freiermuth said. "I'm very proud of what they've been able to do.
Last year, Tarpon lost to Riviera Beach Suncoast in overtime in the state semifinals. The Spongers have had their eye on that game - and that team - ever since.
"We've been preparing since last year and we've just been waiting for a chance to get it this year," Gianeskis said.
"For the last two years, it's been in our minds," she said. "This senior class is so tight and we really want it for each other. It's our year to do it."
