Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hurricanes immune to intimidation

Citrus isn't worried about facing St. Augustine or its star sophomore.

By DAWN REISS
Published January 26, 2006

	[Times photo: Stephen J. Coddington]
	Citrus' Chelsea Wear on facing St. Augustine and Laura Ray: "One player doesn't make their team and we are playing as a team. We don't worry about other players, we just go out there and play our game."

INVERNESS - Citrus has heard the talk. The girl who scored 48 goals for St. Augustine High is coming to town.

The 'Canes will have a chance to see first hand what sophomore forward Laura Ray is all about when Citrus plays St. Augustine (17-2-2) today in the Class 4A region quarterfinal in Inverness.

Just how good Ray is remains to be seen. But according to Nease's two-time state champion coach Dave Silverberg, Ray is one of the best in the state.

"She has a complete game," Silverberg said. "She's fast and understands the game at a higher level than most players. You can't leave her for a second or she'll score."

Though Silverberg calls Ray "a true goal scorer," she has been limited to three goals a game by coach Micah Clukey, who said he doesn't like to run up the score.

After Ray's three-goal maximum, he moves her to sweeper or keeper on occasion. Against Nease, Ray, who is in the Olympic Development Program, scored three goals in a near upset over the state champion Panthers (22-2-2).

Despite the talk, Citrus sweeper Chelsea Wear is confident the 'Canes (13-4-2) can prevail.

"Has she met our team yet?" Wear rhetorically asked. "One player doesn't make their team and we are playing as a team. We don't worry about other players, we just go out there and play our game."

Citrus has much to be proud of, winning back-to-back district titles after junior Amber Jordan scored in double overtime to lift the 'Canes in a 2-1 victory over Lecanto on Friday. Last year, Lecanto was upset in the first round of the playoffs. But this year's playoff between both teams ended any debate that last year was a fluke.

"We had a reputation to protect," said Citrus senior Kayla Nelson, who assisted on the winning goal. "Last year we got a little bit of respect, but this year we earned it. People didn't remember us winning last year, but I'm pretty darn sure they'll remember us this year."

The extra periods of play in such an emotional game against a county rival certainly helped Citrus prepare for today.

Unlike St. Augustine, which lost 4-0 in the first round to Titusville last year, Citrus won its first game 4-2 against Zephyrhills, before falling 2-1 to Newsome in the region semifinal. Citrus also boasts a senior-laden team. Still, St. Augustine has played strong opponents, and its only losses came against Nease.

Either way, Wear likes her chances.

"I like being underdogs better," Wear said, "because we get to show what we're really made of."

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:01:17]