Preps

Pasco: News and Notes

By IZZY GOULD AND DAVID MURPHY
Published November 7, 2007

There's a good chance Ridgewood will end up playing its first-round playoff game next Thursday instead of Friday, and the Rams aren't thrilled about the prospect. The Rams are scheduled to face Daytona Beach Seabreeze, which happens to share a home field with Daytona Beach Mainland, which also has home playoff game Friday night.

According to Seabreeze athletic director Gerald Chandler, the school lost a coin flip with Mainland, meaning it has to play Thursday Bethune-Cookman University plays in the stadium Saturday.

Ridgewood has voiced concerns to the Florida High School Athletic Association. Not only would a Thursday game make it hard for parents and fans to attend because of work and school the next day, it likely would keep players out of school for two days. Robert Hernberger, an FHSAA spokesman, said no scheduling decisions have been finalized.

Gators push back games

Multiple-sport athletes such as Land O'Lakes' Alex Spock and Felix Soto are still deep in their fall sports seasons. Spock is a kicker for the football team; Soto just won a district title in cross country and is a favorite to win a region title.

That's a huge headache for Land O'Lakes soccer coach Mark Pearson, who pushed the start of his season back a week to help ease the blow of losing players to fall sports.

"It's been hard to get chemistry flowing because we have this overlap of two or three weeks," he said. "Hopefully, the younger guys are gaining some much needed experience, but it's killing us."

Jata honored

Former Ridgewood soccer star and current Campbell junior Richard Jata was named the Atlantic Sun offensive player of the week Monday after scoring a game-winning goal and assisting on another in the Camels' 2-1 win over North Carolina.

Winter statistics

Soccer coaches are reminded to send us statistics each week for publication on our North Suncoast pages. Please send stats by Monday of each week via e-mail or fax to Izzy Gould (izzygould@gmail.com) or David Murphy (dmurphy@sptimes.com)

Set your DVR

Got the itch to see some men's college basketball? Check out PHCC tonight at 7 when it hosts Brevard Community College. The Conquistadors are 1-1 after splitting a tournament at the Okaloosa-Walton Classic.

Schedule change

The anticipated early-season matchup between county boys soccer powers Pasco and Mitchell has been postponed until Dec. 13. It will be the only meeting of the season between the teams.

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 20:57:38]