Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Aitken delivers final ingredient

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The senior goalkeeper was key for a team that had all the other elements of a top-notch soccer contender.

LAND O'LAKES - Try to imagine Land O'Lakes soccer without Shannon Aitken.

Imagine where the program would be if Aitken hadn't been in goal when Land O'Lakes recorded its first victories over Countryside and East Lake in the district tournament three years ago, wins which announced the team's emergence as a local power.

Imagine what would have happened if Aitken had not been in goal when the team beat Orlando Bishop Moore 5-4 in penalty kicks two seasons ago, establishing itself as a budding state power.

Imagine the team winning the state title last season without her career-best 156 saves. Imagine the Gators returning to state this season without her 19 shutouts, tying the school record she set as a freshman.

Just try to imagine Land O'Lakes going 96-14-4 the past four seasons if Aitken hadn't started every year and racked up 551 career saves and 70 shutouts, a county record.

The problem is, separate Aitken and her career from Land O'Lakes soccer, and there isn't much left to the imagination. Aitken, the Times 2003-04 Pasco County player of the year, is inseparable from the Gators' success.

"I think we all play our parts," Aitken said. "We all did what it took to get the job done."

But Aitken's part, or job, is so important. Every great team needs a great keeper. They go hand in hand. The Gators always had prolific scorers, skilled midfielders and tenacious defenders. But the program lacked the keeper who could help make those players a state contender.

Until 2000, Aitken's freshman season, that is.

"We've always had strong field players," Gators coach Vicky King said. "But a keeper that can make the big plays and direct the game will always make a big difference."

King said Aitken became that kind of player in that memorable district tournament in 2000. "When we beat Countryside and East Lake in the districts, that is really when she became a significant force," King said. "Because she made so, so many saves, (she blocked) so many one-on-ones and made a big difference in us moving on against two teams we had never beaten before.

"She really played big in big games."

What has made Aitken such a great keeper these past four years? Experience (she was once a scorer and a sweeper herself), dedication, soccer smarts and talent. She might be the team's best natural scorer, but an anxiety disorder left her breathless playing as a child, mandating a move to the net.

"She's a great athlete," King said. "It takes a great athlete to be a great keeper. She could play any sport.

"You have to be ready for every game, you have to be smart enough to know what's going on. She was also a field player, so she understands what's going on."

But all Aitken wants to be remembered for is one thing: "Hard work," she said. This season might have been her biggest challenge. With a rebuilt defense in front of her, with the state title defense falling upon the shoulders of a handful of veterans and a team of rookies, Aitken was unsure of her new team.

"When we started I was nervous because I didn't know how we were going to be with all these different players," she said. "I think we were a different team but we're a better team in some ways than last year.

"Last year we had more production from certain people, but this year everybody had to step up."

They did. Land O'Lakes didn't defend the title, but defied expectations by going 23-3-2 and returning to state. "I wanted to go further, to win another state title," Aitken said. "But making it to state was pretty good."

To King, you can't have one or the other. A great team needs a great keeper, and vice versa. "If you have a good keeper and you don't have a strong team in front of her, that doesn't work either," King said. "It is the combination that has worked for us."

Aitken's moving on to the University of Tampa. But she'll still be thinking of the Gators.

"I hope we win state next year," she said.

JAMI PASS

JR., F, PASCO: Turned in a record-setting performance to pace the Pirates' record-setting season. Scored a school-record (and county-leading) 48 goals to lead Pasco to a school-record 15-7-1 season that included its first district title and playoff win. Won team's "Will to Win" award.

LAUREN SCHENK

SO., F, MITCHELL: Led team with 35 goals as a freshman, and scored just as many goals in her sophomore season. Also tied a school record with 19 assists to help her team to a 21-2-2 record and a victory over defending state champion Land O'Lakes in the district championship match.

KATE SLAUGHTER

SR. F, MITCHELL: Four-year starter helped build Mustangs into a regional power, winning back-to-back district titles and earning first region final berth. Leaves with a school-record 95 goals, 30 assists and nine career hat tricks. Won team's "Golden Boot" award as a freshman, sophomore and senior, leading the team with 37 goals this season.

SARAH SLUSAK

SR. F, RIVER RIDGE: The Royal Knights gave every team fits this season, no one more than Slusak. A tenacious player, the team captain led River Ridge with 28 goals and nine assists. Stuck in the county's best district, against two of the state's best teams, Slusak gave Land O'Lakes and Mitchell trouble all season long.

ELSA KURLYCHEK

JR., M, LAND O'LAKES: The Gators played the possession game this season, and Kurlychek proved to an able ballhandler. Skilled with both feet, versatile enough to play anywhere, she led the defending state champions with 22 assists and added eight goals of her own.

GRACE WEATHERFORD

JR., M, LAND O'LAKES: Hers was the toughest job in Pasco County: replace the production of the graduated Stacy Bishop, the county's all-time leading scorer. The skilled, talented Weatherford responded with a team-high 29 goals and 10 assists as the team captain led the Gators back to state.

JESSICA GAGNON

SR., D, LAND O'LAKES: The sweeper was one of the few stalwarts to return from last season's state championship roster. This season she was the rock of a rebuilt defense. The three-year starter and team captain was physical, deceptively fast and excelled when the ball was in the air. Earned an FACA all-star invite.

MORGAN GRIFFIN

SR., D, ZEPHYRHILLS: Four-year starter and team captain made the "ultimate sacrifice" for the team, according to coach Janet Heyman, to play sweeper. She made the move from center-mid early in the season to bolster a porous defense, bringing leadership and skill to the position.

LINDSEY SOWDER

JR., D, MITCHELL: The three-year starter was a defensive force for the Mustangs. Sowder brings speed and skill to the position and is never out of place. The sweeper has great anticipation, reads the field and the opponents and helps keep Mitchell's back organized.

TIFFANY VEGA

SR., D, RIDGEWOOD: Four-year starter and four-time all-conference selection. Team captain and defensive quarterback also contributed from the sweeper position with two goals and six assists this season. She finished her career with 32 points and a spot in the FACA all-star game.

SHANNON AITKEN

SR., GK, LAND O'LAKES: The best Pasco County has ever seen, period. The four-year starter and University of Tampa signee leaves with a county-record 70 shutouts. She made 141 saves this season, and leaves with 551 total. The SAC player of the year even scored five goals and got an assist this season.

LAUREN HUDSON

JR., UTIL/GK, MITCHELL: Aitken's graduation passes mantle of county's best keeper to Hudson. The Mustangs' three-year starter finished the season with a 0.60 GAA, set a school record with 14 shutouts this season and has 29 in her career. She made 97 saves this season, set school record with 111 saves as a sophomore and has 311 in three years.

Sara Brinkley, Jr., MF, Land O'Lakes.

Kristina Kell, Jr., MF, Ridgewood.

Michelle Kukec, Sr., MF, Mitchell.

Shannon Mitchell, Jr., MF, Zephyrhills.

Terra Rosensweig, Sr., F, Zephyrhills.

Whitney Vance, So., MF, Pasco.

Nikki Buccellato, So., D, Ridgewood.

Amanda Davis, Sr., D, Pasco.

Kaitlin Lavin, Jr., D, Mitchell.

Kristen Silviotti, Sr., D, River Ridge.

Marisa Moe, So., GK, River Ridge.

Gulf - Kristin Olsen, Sr., D; Mollie Shaw, So., F/UT; Amber Shuhart, Sr., MF. Hudson - Jessica Borrello, Sr., GK; Courtney Law, Jr., MF; Ashley Schuering, Fr., F. Land O'Lakes - Aleisha Peterson, So., D; Colleen Raison, Sr., D. Mitchell - Erin Fogarty, So., D/MF; Amanda Graham, So., D/MID/UT; Carly Mitchell, Jr., D/MF. Pasco - Heather Hill, Jr., MF; Victoria Schrader, So., GK; Rosalda Velasquez, Fr., F. Ridgewood - Heather Bertling, So., D; Jilian Frey, So., F; Patty Racener, Jr., F; Nicole Smith, Jr., GK. River Ridge - Christina Smith, So., C/MF; Wesley Chapel - Lara Hail, So., GK; Lindsay Lucado, Sr., MF/D. Zephyrhills - Ann Marie Gildeneyer, So., D.