Chamberlain girls soccer team loses

By ROD GIPSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2000

TAMPA -- Throughout the season, the Chamberlain girls soccer team got used to big offensive performances, stifling defense and shutout victories.

That's what they saw again Tuesday in the Class 3A, Region III match against Sarasota -- except this time the Chiefs were on the losing end.

Sarasota advanced to the next round of regional play with a 6-0 win and left Chamberlain in awe of the Sailors' speed and playmaking skills. Sarasota (28-2) opened the scoring three minutes into the contest on a Kristen Gambetta goal, and before Chamberlain could catch its breath the Sailors added three goals during the match's first 11 minutes. The Chiefs (19-3), which were down by four at halftime, had not trailed by more than two and still won in any game all season long. Things would not get any better.

The loss of sweeper Jen Kay, out with a knee injury suffered in the regional quarterfinal, forced Chamberlain coach Robert Warren to adjust his lineup. In Kay's absence, Warren played one of the Chiefs' main scoring threats, striker Dana Hemke (34 goals) at sweeper.

But even that didn't help as the Sailors, last year's Class 3A state runner-ups, added two more scores in the second half to cement the win and end Chamberlain's season. The Chiefs, which averaged 27 shots on goal and had not been shut out all year, could muster just eight shots. And leading scorer Diane Hemke (38 goals) had no legitimate threats to score.

"We just haven't seen that kind of team speed," said Warren. "Plus we were without Key. We hate to make excuses because Sarasota is such a great team. They just played really well."

GIRLS BASKETBALL: The last two area teams still alive in the state playoffs bowed out Thursday night. Sickles and Gaither both fell in regional quarterfinal play. Sickles (16-8) suffered an eight-point second half in route to a 59-37 loss to Sarasota Riverview. The Gryphons, who had held a 29-26 halftime lead, made just two shots from the field in the second half. Renea Phelps led Sickles with 11 points. Gaither, meanwhile, had no answers at Venice, falling behind 17-6 in the opening period before eventually losing 72-34. The Cowboys end the season at 12-12.

BASEBALL: Leto opened the regular season last week defeating King 5-4 on an RBI double from Ricky Ware to score in the bottom of the seventh inning. Wharton also opened the season with a seventh-inning score that resulted in a one-run victory. Joey Livingston hit a home run as the Wildcats pounded out 10 hits in a 4-3 win against Hillsborough. Several teams are in action Tuesday with Gaither playing at King, Leto hosting Robinson and Wharton playing at Sickles. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.

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