 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Change in attitude helps Pirates win
By JAMAL THALJI © St. Petersburg Times, published January 18, 2001 DADE CITY -- With each win, the Pirates make history. Then again, how could they not? The school record for wins at Pasco is five, set by the Pirates of last season. Now at 8-8-2 in 2001 and climbing, the Pirates are erasing years of soccer futility at W.F. Edwards Stadium and writing a new chapter in school history. What is the secret of their success? What separates this year's Pasco edition from previous and far less successful ones? First-year coach Barry Grayling said the adjustment from pushover to doing the pushing has been as much mental as physical. "The main thing is attitude from the girls," said the England native in his Ipswich accent, "and they want to win. Their attitude is really great, the morale is real high within the team." Which is how the Pirates have methodically built themselves into a .500 squad, one that hopes to keep climbing and challenge Class 2A, District 8 powers Zephyrhills and Springstead. Pasco is in third place with a 6-3-1 district record, having lost to Zephyrhills and Springstead. But it did tie Springstead in the second match, and Wednesday night hoped to avoid the sweep against Zephyrhills. As long as the team continues to buy into the coach's philosophy -- that it can win every game it so desires -- then the sky is the limit, Grayling said. Just maybe, he hopes, come the district tourney the Pirates can become the first Pasco team to ever reach the post-season. "The main thing is when they're playing as a team, they've got confidence in themselves as a team," he said. "They don't get down when they start to lose, they keep going." Which is why the Pirates are winning, and doing it with youth. Sophomore goalkeeper Shelly Grayling, the coach's stepdaughter, is among the county's best in net. She has allowed 1.88 goals per game and earned six shutouts. "She has good stability," the coach said. "She knows that she can pull off saves when it's needed and that she's got the confidence to come at anything in the box, that she's going to go at it." Sweeper Theresa Schrader is a key cog on defense. Kayla Bresch gives the team a versatile player who can line up at center, forward or , midfield or anywhere else the coach may wish. Then there's midfielders Michelle Rubio, Betsy Warful and Amanda Newsome, who also plays forward. Defenders Elizabeth Mercer and Rachel Pollock take care of things on the other end. Now consider this: The team has just three seniors: Warful, Teghan Miller and Michelle Nichols. Which means Grayling could be building Pasco County's next dynasty.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
