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4-wheel goal machine powering the Bulldogs

By STEVE LEE
Published January 11, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - Coach Janet Heyman never had the luxury of multiple scoring threats on any of her previous eight Zephyrhills teams.

This season, she has four.

Individually, none has had single seasons like 40-goal scorers DeeDee Castro, Erin Dodd and Roxanne Anderson. But collectively, Kristen Vollmer, Laurren McLoud, Deja Dukes and Brittney Hough have something those former Bulldogs lacked: high-scoring teammates.

Juniors Vollmer and Dukes, along with freshmen McLoud and Hough, have combined for 72 goals and 235 points in leading Zephyrhills to a 13-4-2 record.

"It's been very nice to have, because in years past we had one person," Heyman said.

Zephyrhills has won four straight and Friday's 8-0 win over South Sumter clinched the second seed in the Class 4A, District 8 tournament that begins Jan. 16 at Springstead. The Bulldogs also won Monday 6-0 over Wesley Chapel with Vollmer, Dukes and Hough each scoring twice.

"The movement of the ball is a lot better than in years past," Heyman said of this year's squad, which passes more often. "Before, we pretty much played the ball downfield and hoped to put (one of the previous scoring leaders) on a run."

It also helps that Heyman has more club players - nine on a 19-player roster - than on any previous teams.

And yes, her big four play club soccer; McLoud and Hough on a Dade City team, Vollmer in Lakeland and Dukes in Temple Terrace.

The Bulldogs' offensive firepower also has benefitted the defense. Heyman planned to use Hillary Tunker at midfield this season, but the team's success in that area let the coach place Tunker in netafter goalkeeper Ashley Burgess suffered a season-ending injury.

CELEBRATION TIME: The Wildcats were not celebrating Monday's loss to Zephyrhills when they dumped a water cooler over Lara Hail.

The postgame gesture was to acknowledge the senior goalkeeper's 1,000th career save.

"Everybody was looking at us like we were crazy, because we'd just lost," Wesley Chapel coach Jami Finan said.

Finan said she has kept close tabs on Hail, the Wildcats' lone four-year starter who made 29 saves against Zephyrhills.

"I make sure I summarize things in my record books and (Hail) asks me all the time, too," Finan said.

COOL DOWN: Not that Land O'Lakes has had a poor season, but the team has cooled off somewhat after a hot start.

The Gators (12-7-2) followed up a 1-3 mark in the Lake Highland Prep Invitational with Monday's scoreless tie with Lecanto. Winning just once in the Jan. 6-7 tourney, however, could make Land O'Lakes a better team in the long run, said coach Vicky King.

"It's an asset for us," King said of competing in a field of perennial playoff contenders. "It prepares us for tougher games through districts and if we move into the postseason."

Land O'Lakes lost to Jacksonville Episcopal, Lake Highland Prep and Delray Beach American Heritage by a combined 16-1 margin. The lone win came against Maitland Orangewood Christian, 1-0 with Brittani Stoltz scoring her team-leading 13th goal on a header off a feed from Amanda Goble.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:58:02]