Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
River Ridge, Land O'Lakes, Countryside and East Lake will prove difficult roadblocks for Ridgewood.
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Ridgewood girls soccer coach John Herig feels he has just the inspiration his players need to claim one of two regional playoff berths up for grabs in the Class 3A, District 9 tournament.
At his disposal are three key tools: a trophy; the possibility of the Rams having to be ball girls; and home-field advantage.
First, Herig plans to take his team on a tour of the Ridgewood trophy case, which in addition to other pieces of hardware, houses the 1988 boys soccer district championship trophy. Herig played on that team.
Secondly, the coach will inform the Rams that they will have to chase stray balls on the sidelines during other teams' games if or when they are eliminated.
And finally, although Herig doesn't need to remind his players that they are more familiar with Ram Booster Stadium than anyone else, he will anyway.
"Hopefully, the girls can realize that we're coming out of our locker room and the day that we lose we have to watch in our own backyard," Herig said.
Winning a playoff spot, however, remains a formidable task considering the fifth-seeded Rams are behind longtime Pasco County powers Land O'Lakes and River Ridge. Not to mention Pinellas County heavy-hitters Countryside and East Lake.
First and foremost in Monday's opening round, the Rams (2-7-1 in 3A-9) must get past River Ridge, which uncharacteristically finished below .500 in district play (3-5-1). "River Ridge at our place," Herig said, "if the right girls show up we can win."
While the Knights' Lindsey Jones leads the county with 33 goals and with teammates Sarah Slusak (12 goals, 12 assists) and Lisa Karcinski (7 goals, 7 assists) providing scoring depth, Ridgewood also has a solid scoring trio. Taylor Greene has 21 goals while Mariah Wolfe and Amanda Salvarezza each have 13.
In the other 3A-9 game, Land O'Lakes (7-3-0) plays Gulf (0-10-0) at 8 p.m.
The Gators defeated the Bucs 6-0 and 10-0 during the season and there is the distinct possibility that the Gators could be looking ahead to a matchup with Countryside (8-2-0) or East Lake (8-1-0).
But Land O'Lakes coach Vicky King doesn't agree.
"I don't think this year we've overlooked anybody," she said. "We know what we have to do. If we don't win on Monday, we don't get to (the district semifinals on) Wednesday."