Dinner, movie inspire Barons

By JEFF BERLINICKE
Published February 19, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Teams have different ways of preparing for big games. St. Petersburg Catholic decided dinner and a movie would work.

And it did, leading to a 2-0 win over Jensen Beach on Friday.

The win sends the Barons to the state final four for the first time since 1999. Justin Weimerskirk and Tim Kolb scored for the Barons and keeper Davis Rodriguez registered the shutout.

The Barons watched Coach Carter followed by dinner at a player's home. The movie fired up the Barons from the start.

"We hung out together all day and that movie told us all we needed to know," captain Matthew Skonicki said. "It was all about overcoming struggles and that's what we've done all year."

"Watching it together taught us about being able to beat the odds," Rodriguez added. "Nobody believed in us earlier in the season."

The Barons started 1-3 until the team's parents met with the players. The meeting seemed to turn the season around. SPC lost three times the rest of the way.

"We always knew it was just a matter of time for us to come together as a team," coach Anatol Popovich said. After a scoreless first half that saw several changes in momentum, the Barons scored early in the second half. Skonicki sent a crossing pass to Weimerskirk, who fought through two defenders before rolling the ball into the net. While Rodriguez remained strong, SPC defenders Sean Bryant and Sean Kelly marked Jensen's leading threats.

Kolb scored in the closing minutes off a pass from Ryan Covington to ice the game.

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:57:17]