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Newsome girls soccer has fast-tracked to contention

A victory over nemesis Bloomingdale sends the Wolves to the state's final four for the second time in the past three years.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published February 9, 2007

Newsome High School's girls soccer program has been in existence for just four years, but the Wolves have quickly established themselves as one of the area's premier teams.

Newsome's Feb. 2 win over Bloomingdale in the regional final (Class 5A, Region 2) sent the Wolves packing for Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium -home of the state final four - for the second time in three years.

In 2005, Newsome lost to eventual state champion Nease 1-0 in a semifinal match.

"We've been doing well," senior defender Meigan Dodd said. "We're in shape, and we've been working really hard because we want to win. We've been playing really well lately. This year is the first time we've ever been able to beat Bloomingdale when it matters and that's a big accomplishment."

Like the district final they played 14 days earlier, Newsome and Bloomingdale needed a shootout to determine a winner after neither could score in regulation and two overtimes.

In the shootout, Newsome was perfect on three shots. Bloomingdale missed its first and fourth shots, setting up the Wolves' fourth penalty-taker, midfielder Angela Murphy, for the game-winner. She calmly buried it in the top left corner of the goal.

In four seasons under head coach Nancy Dodd, Newsome has won three district championships and reached at least the regional finals every year.

"It's a privilege to be on such a great team," said sophomore midfielder Ashley Evers, who has three goals and a team-leading 13 assists on the year. "We all work so well together."

Hoop dreams deflate

All eight eastern Hillsborough County schools failed to advance beyond the district tournament in girls basketball.

Armwood and Bloomingdale were two of five teams with a legitimate shot at taking the Class 5A-8 district title, but both fell in the semifinals.

Bloomingdale lost 28-24 to Freedom on Feb. 2. Armwood was beaten 57-38 by top-seeded King that same day. Bloomingdale finished with an 18-9 record. Armwood ended the year at 17-9.

Ashley Milian, a 2006 first-team Times all-county player for Riverview, saw her high school career end in the Sharks' 68-56 Feb. 1 loss to Sarasota in the Class 6A, District 8 tournament semifinal.

Her double-double - 20 points and 10 rebounds -wasn't enough for the Sharks, who close out the year at 17-7.

Mission impossible

Durant had a tough assignment in its boys soccer regional quarterfinal (Class 6A, Region 2) against 26-0-1 Countryside, the No. 1 team in the country, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Durant kept the score close, but Countryside got a first-half goal from Kyle Kuhlman and shut down Durant's offense to win 1-0 on Feb. 1. Durant, one of eight county teams to make the regional tournament, finished the year at 12-5-2.

Eagles soar

Brandon continued its dominance in wrestling by taking first place in the Class 2A, District 7 tournament last week and qualifying all 14 of its wrestlers for the regional tournament that begins today at Polk Community College in Winter Haven.

Terry Dawson (103 pounds), Eric Grajales (112), Kyle Keller (119), Joey Cozart (125), Zaq Berridge (140), Sean Joyce (145), Keith Koziel (152), Tommy Timothy (160), Sean Patrick (171), Clayton Simmons (189), Phil Uno (215) and Aaron Fullenwider (285) all won district titles for the Eagles, who are going for their seventh straight state title.

Ruben Perez (135) of Armwood also won his weight bracket to advance to the regionals.

In Class 3A, District 5, Durant's Justin Bechtold (112) and Eric Ruiz (119) won district championships for the Cougars, who qualified 10 wrestlers for regionals and were runnersup at district.

Bloomingdale took third place and had three district champions - brothers Austin (125) and Chris (135) Figari and Kyle Paladini (152). Plant City's lone district champion was Andrew Guzman (140).

Those wrestlers will compete in the Class 3A, Region 2 tournament starting today at Pinellas Park High School in Largo.

Newsome is sending eight wrestlers - district winners Dan Wood (135), Samuel Johnson (189) and Jordan Scott (215) - to the Class A, Region 3 tournament at Palmetto Ridge in Naples today.

[Last modified February 8, 2007, 08:25:17]