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College notebookBy STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, Polo packs some punch for the LionsFederico Polo is a scorer, not a fighter. But that's not to say the wiry forward will back down from a challenge. As a midfielder for Missouri Baptist in 1999, an opposing goalkeeper came up hard after being spiked as Polo jumped over him. The two-player skirmish erupted in a bench-clearing brawl, and the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Polo was ejected for five soccer games. Polo, a 21-year-old junior from Argentina who in the spring transferred to Saint Leo -- not because of that incident, he quickly reminds -- chuckled at the recollection. "I learned my lesson," said Polo, who hasn't been tossed from a game since. That's good for Lions coach Fran Reidy, who needs the striker on the field. Especially since last year's scoring leader -- senior John Quinn, who had 11 goals and 24 points to make the All-South Region second team -- is academically ineligible. Quinn's absence forced Reidy to change plans. "Quinn was going to be the finisher, and Polo was going to be the setup man," Rediy said. Instead, Polo is Saint Leo's offensive leader with 4 goals and 1 assist for 9 points in 8 games. He has three winning kicks and is a primary reason the Lions (5-3) have won their past three games. "I know how to read the play before the ball is coming at my feet," Polo said. Two weeks ago, he became the first Saint Leo member to be named Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week since Quinn last year. Keeper Charlie Long (Gulf) said Polo in practices is "one of the tougher ones to stop. He'll finesse you and put (the ball) around you. He'll find a way to score." Polo, who left Argentina when he was 16, had 19 points in 17 games in two seasons at Missouri Baptist. The international business major -- who wants to work in the U.S., Europe or Argentina after graduating -- said he came to Florida to see a "warm" part of the country. Joining Polo at Saint Leo are fellow Argentinians and former Missouri Baptist teammates Claus Hagedorn, a midfielder, and defender Juan Palacio. "They provided positional needs and some experience and balance to our roster," Reidy said. The trio has lightened things up a bit with its exuberance for the game they grew up playing in South America. "They've brought a lot of fun and good nature to the team," Reidy said. "They're never gloom and doom. They're always excited to play." That attitude, Polo said, stems from how much he has been able to accomplish with his skills. "All my life, sports helped me in everything," said Polo, who played basketball for 14 years as well as soccer and football as a high school foreign exchange student in Cleveland. "Sport has given me an opportunity to know other countries, to know people, to go to college, to let me dream," he said. "Sport is everything for me." Polo plans to return to Argentina to visit his family after graduation. Then soccer for him will consist of playing in recreation leagues. And, Polo said, going home to offer a few pointers to his 11-year-old, Guido. VOLLEYBALL: The host team was a finalist in the Pasco-Hernando Community College Invitational, bowing out to Club Tampa 23-30, 15-30, 12-30 in the championship. PHCC entered the tournament last weekend as the third-ranked team by the Florida Community College Athletic Association. The Conquistadors posted a 3-2 mark in the series, defeating No. 5 Indian River but losing to fourth-ranked Lake Sumter. Cathy Cline and Erin Stoen made the all-tournament team. Cline had 49 kills and 67 digs. "She was definitely one of the players that made a difference," PHCC coach Sam Cibrone said. "She was almost unstoppable." Stoen finished with 44 kills and 17 blocks.
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