Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

River Ridge relishes rare top seeding

By STEVE LEE
Published January 15, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - River Ridge earned the top seed in the Class 5A, District 7 tournament, which does not guarantee a playoff berth.

Nonetheless, coach Skip Glover sure likes the view.

"It's unusual sitting on top of the hill," said Glover, who in his fourth season at River Ridge is hoping for his first playoff berth.

In 2001-02, the season before Glover replaced longtime coach Keith Hooper, the Royal Knights won 12 games and made it to a region semifinal for the second time in school history. They had nine-, 10- and 11-win seasons before this season's 14-3-2 mark heading into Friday's regular-season finale against Hudson.

"It's something my girls haven't experienced before," Glover said of the postseason. "It's starting to sink in now, but instead of getting cocky they're getting more confident."

The cockiness part was taken care of by Zephyrhills, whose 4-3 win Nov. 28 halted the Knights' pursuit of an unbeaten season and snapped a 7-0-1 start.

At 6-1-1 in the district, River Ridge came close to a perfect mark. A 6-2 loss to Land O'Lakes and 2-all tie with Central, in which the Knights rallied from a two-goal deficit, are the only blemishes.

Land O'Lakes coach Vicky King, for one, is not surprised about the Knights' top seeding.

"They were greatly improved at the end of last year," King said. "They just built on that. It's a commitment to the program."

River Ridge is more balanced than in recent seasons. For the second straight season, Deana Rossi, who as a freshman tallied 28 goals and 66 points, is the team's scoring leader with 22 goals and 57 points.

But there are others who have contributed to River Ridge's resurgence.

Christina Smith (11 goals, 26 points) and Kaleigh Patri (nine, 22) have helped offensively. In back, goalkeeper Marisa Moe has a 1.56 goals-against average with five shutouts while playing behind stalwart defenders Kathy Nagy and Nicole Whittle.

Not to look ahead, but four of the aforementioned players (Rossi, Patri, Nagy and Whittle) are sophomores, which bodes well for the future.

"They really started maturing about halfway through last season," Glover said of the sophomores, "and it finally sunk in that it's up to them."

Added King, who gradually worked underclassmen into back-to-back state tournament teams in 2002 and 2003: "It's a commitment to the program."

The Eagles are 14-0 in the district, followed by Zephyrhills (10-2-2) and Pasco (8-5-1).

Zephyrhills boasts a deep and productive offense led by Kristen Vollmer, Laurren McLoud, Deja Dukes and Brittney Hough. That foursome has combined for more than 70 goals.

Pasco's offense is not as potent, but the balanced Pirates have 23-goal scorer Alix Norris, defender/midfielder Whitney Vance and keeper Victoria Schrader (2.18 GAA, three shutouts).

[Last modified January 15, 2006, 01:47:20]