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Letter to the editor

UNF goalie enjoys role as team leader

By NANCY MORGAN, Times Sports Correspondent
Published January 13, 2008

North Florida is delighted Rachael Howard St. Petersburg chose soccer over softball when she was about 15.

For the past three years, Howard has defended the Ospreys goal from opponents. This season, the junior collected 89 saves for a .742 saves percentage.

"I came into town in April and inherited the team," said Linda Hamilton, first-year UNF soccer coach. "I didn't know anyone, but I could see Rachael was already a leader and the team respected her. She's smart, goes to class, gets good grades and is on time for practice - it's things like these that you can tell one's character.

"All season, she was right there to do whatever we needed. I'm hoping her senior year we'll come together better as a team and be more consistent."

On the field, Howard has collected eight shutouts, 136 saves and a goals-against-average of 1.32 in three seasons. Off the field, the business major was named an honoree on the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic team her first two years.

"Choosing North Florida was right for me because the coach was really interested and I expected to be able to play right away," Howard said. "Tactical skills are a lot higher in college, just like the overall quality of players. In high school, you might have a good team with a couple of star players, but in college you have a good team that is full of star players."

Howard thinks confidence is a key ingredient to being a successful goalkeeper, along with proficient reaction skills and upper body strength.

"You have to be strong mentally, especially if you let a goal in on you," Howard said. "You have to have confidence - and your team confidence in you - that you'll get it back. The whole team depends on you, and the goalkeeper is a kind of captain even without the title."

Howard did have the title: Teammates voted her captain.

UNF finished 8-11 and was 6-5 in its conference. Howard foresees more consistent play from the Ospreys and is working in the offseason to help make that a reality.

More soccer: Stetson sophomore forward Emily Ware (Osceola) scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-1 loss to East Tennessee in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.

- Columbia political science major Drew Ford (St. Petersburg) was named to the All-Ivy Academic team. To be considered, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.0. The senior midfielder led the squad in assists, including two in a comeback win over Lehigh.

Football: Coast Guard punter Jesse Harms (Lakewood/Naval Academy Prep) earned his fourth consecutive selection to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast All-Star team. Harms, a three-time third team All-American, led the New England Football Conference in punting with a 40.7 yard average.

- Chip Brinkman (Clearwater Central Catholic) had three catches for 30 yards and Kevin Marion (Dixie Hollins) two more for six in Wake Forest's 24-10 win over Connecticut in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Louis Frazier (Clearwater) was the Demon Deacons' starting offensive left tackle.

- Anthony Leandri (Clearwater Central Catholic) connected on 31 of 32 point-after kick attempts for Northern Michigan. The redshirt freshman was second in total points with 55.

Basketball: Sophomore Cruz Daniels (Clearwater) is shooting .727 percent at the free-throw line and is averaging 3.8 points per game in less than 20 minutes.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 22:04:09]