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'It's our time,' Marauders say

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001

Clearwater Central Catholic coach Jim Harte isn't worried much about regular-season wins and losses.

Like a good chemist, Harte likes to spend December and early January experimenting with his team.

What if we put this player at sweeper? What if we ran an offsides trap for a couple of games? What if we switched midfielders?

It's all part of Harte's master plan, which is to have his team fine-tuned when the district tournament begins. This is his time of year, and the Marauders always seem to respond.

"It's our time, and I think the players sense it," Harte said. "We try to get them to lead themselves by the time districts come around. We want them to have a total commitment to what they're doing, and it becomes second nature.

"The last eight games, we've played well, so I think we're ready to go."

CCC is 15-6-2 through Friday's games and has a nine-game unbeaten streak.

However, CCC is 2-6-1 against ranked teams, and after districts, the Marauders are sure to meet some highly ranked teams in the regionals.

Harte is used to that. In his 14 seasons at CCC, the Marauders have won 11 district championships, eight regional championships and five state championships.

Each season, his teams have been a little different, and he's always willing to adjust.

Last season, CCC had high-powered forward Matt Malinosky, who set a school record with 46 goals. The Marauders have no such player this season, so it's goals by committee.

Senior Brett Wiard and sophomore Ted Anderson lead the team with 12 goals.

Senior Dave Miller and sophomore Nick Kohlschreiber have 10. Junior David Schreck has added nine. With no "go-to" guy, CCC has played more of a possession game this season, and it's starting to work.

"We have to play a more conservative game now," Harte said. "We can't open it up and run with teams like we did last season.

"We're not very big, so we have to hold possession of the ball and move it from foot to foot. It took some getting used to early on, but the guys are starting to believe in it now."

CCC has had to rely on its defense more than ever this season.

Senior Brendan Corrigan was switched to sweeper this season and has been steady. Senior Chris Kein and junior Mike Skanlon also have added some size in the back.

Skanlon was a running back on the football team and missed seven games.

"Mike has given us some size in the back," Harte said.

"I think early in the season, we were getting pushed around back there."

But early in the season is just a faded memory to Harte.

It's this time of year that gets him excited. CCC is a clear favorite to win the district tournament, although it did tie St. Petersburg Catholic during the regular season.

The Marauders' goal every season is to win a state championship, and despite some early-season stumbles, the goal remains the same.

"It's always the goal," Harte said. "We may have to grind out wins more than we used to, but if that's what we have to do, then we'll do it.

"We're kind of like the Princeton basketball team. We use the clock and play good defense."

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