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Revived Knights shrug off first loss

By STEVE LEE
Published November 30, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - The River Ridge girls team no longer is the county's best-kept secret.

Having missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, the resurgent Royal Knights appear likely to return. Unlikely, however, was an unbeaten season.

Monday's 4-3 loss to Zephyrhills took care of that as the Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit, which dropped River Ridge to 8-1-1.

"I didn't think that," River Ridge coach Skip Glover said of his team's prospects for an unbeaten season. "There are too many good teams in the county to do that. I think we've just started to catch up to other teams. This is the continuation of last year."

Last season, the Knights won 11 games, their most since the 2001-02 squad won 12 en route to their second region semifinal. River Ridge has won nine, 10 and 11 games in Glover's three seasons.

Sophomore forward Deana Rossi, who has a team-leading 13 goals, Shelby Holley and Christina Karl scored against Zephyrhills. But Glover, noting his team's 20-10 shot advantage, said the Knights should have scored more.

"We dominated," he said. "We just couldn't get it to go."

Kristen Vollmer had a hat trick for the Bulldogs (6-4) Monday and has a team-high 18 goals. Laurren McLoud scored the winner to snap a tie at 3.

"I was just proud of my girls, to not get down," Zephyrhills coach Janet Heyman said. "We continued to push and push."

GATORS-BEARS II: For Land O'Lakes coach Vicky King, there could not be a better time to have a healthy roster.

"We haven't put our strongest team on the field yet," King said.

The Gators, who have missed as many as four starters thanks to injuries, are at full strength just in time to avenge their lone loss. Land O'Lakes (5-1-1) hosts Central tonight at 6. The Bears won the first meeting, 2-1 on Nov.9.

"It was an even game," King said of that loss, played without defender Aleisha Peterson (turf toe). "We hope that the home field is advantageous to us."

Amanda Goble had Land O'Lakes' goal against Central. Goble (six goals, two assists, 14 points) is tied with Lindsay Martin (6-2-14) for second in team scoring behind Brittani Stoltz (7-1-15).

Stoltz, a senior forward who was academically ineligible last season, tallied six goals and 16 points as a sophomore on Land O'Lakes' state semifinalist team.

"She can make a difference," King said.

- STEVE LEE, Times staff writer

[Last modified November 30, 2005, 11:34:03]