NEW PORT RICHEY - Hired in May as the West Pasco Futbol Club's coaching director, Karl Kukec spoke of more exposure for the program.
Kukec took matters into his own hands, coaching the West Pasco Thunder to a U.S. Youth Soccer Association Southern Regional title. That under-18 girls competitive team went 5-0 in the June 11-13 series at Fort Myers.
"We did great," Kukec said. "We're going to the national finals now."
As one of four regional champions, West Pasco advances to the National Director's Cup set for July 29-Aug. 1 in Indianapolis.
"We want to get kids to stay in West Pasco," said Kukec, who in recent years has witnessed local players leave for club teams in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. "We want to make a name for ourselves and we're starting right now."
West Pasco outscored the opposition 17-3 in five games, including a 3-1 win against North Carolina. Gulf's Molly Shaw and Mitchell's Lauren Schenk scored in that contest.
Goalkeeper Lauren Hudson, who also plays at Mitchell, played every game and posted two shutouts. That included a 1-0 defeat of North Texas with 2004 River Ridge graduate Sarah Slusak scoring the lone goal on a pass from Schenk.
"They just picked it up and played five great games," said Kukec, who coaches the Mitchell girls team.
Before the USYSA regional, West Pasco won a Region C Cup and advanced to the President's Cup, falling in the final 2-1 to Orlando India-Ilantic.
President's Cup winners from the southeastern United States qualified for the USYSA regional, but West Pasco received an invitation to the regional after an Arkansas team backed out.
"We got a second chance," Kukec said. "We came in by the misfortune of somebody else, then we ended up winning the whole thing."
West Pasco's 25-player roster included 14 from area high schools: Gulf - Shaw; Mitchell - Amanda Graham, Kaitlin Lavin, Leslie Sowder, Lindsey Sowder, Kate Slaughter, Erin Fogarty, Schenk and Hudson; Ridgewood - Patty Racener, Tiffany Vega; River Ridge - Kristen Silviotti, Christina Karl and Slusak.
"The way this program is growing, we're getting some first-class talent in this area," Kukec said.
