Jan 7,
2001 - 03:40 PM
Gators take charge with 1-2 punch
LAND O' LAKES - The Gators
girls soccer team is scoring big with its dynamic duo.
Vicky King doesn't remember
her star soccer player uttering more than three words last season. Stacy Bishop
was so adept at avoiding attention that even the Land O' Lakes' principal
hardly knew her.
Yet, opponents were fully
aware of Bishop by the end of the season, having been victims in her path
toward a school-record 46 goals as a freshman.
They clearly would change
their game plan this winter. Bishop knew it.
``I was expecting to be
marked,'' she said.
With that nugget of
knowledge, the Gators soccer team sat down in the off-season and discussed its
dilemma.
Someone would have to stand
out when Bishop drew two, three and sometimes even four defenders.
That player has emerged for
Land O' Lakes this season, so much so that if her teammate was anyone other
than Bishop, she would have overshadowed her easily.
Instead, the Gators now
have one dominant duo: Bishop and Casie Poyssick.
``I think with all the
pressure that is put on Stacy, people didn't realize Casie was there last
year,'' King said. ``Casie was our second-leading scorer. She wasn't as
noticeable as Stacy was, but now that everyone is focused on Stacy, it's giving
Casie an opportunity.''
Entering Friday's game
against Ridgewood, Poyssick had a team-high 25 goals in 11 games. Bishop was
close behind with 20 goals in 13 games after scoring four in a 6-0 win against
Mitchell on Thursday.
Bishop also had 19 assists,
three more than last season and 15 more than the next highest total this
season.
``I love playing with
Stacy. We've been working really well together, even more than last year,''
said Poyssick, also a sophomore. ``We played well together last year, too. As
we go on, we'll develop more as a duo.''
King, whose team improved
to 12-3-1 with the win against Mitchell, said she has never had a twosome like
Bishop and Poyssick.
``Never two people that
could put together what they do,'' she said.
Jessica Reynolds, who has
six goals despite missing games with a knee injury, has been a complement to
Bishop and Poyssick, though both clearly are the ``offensive stars'' of this
team.
King said both are driven
players with accurate shots and solid ball skills, a key reason they are used
in the midfield, where they can both create and convert opportunities.
``We set each other up,''
Bishop said. ``She plays next to me so we can find each other.''
They are familiar with each
other and comfortable playing together. The two have teamed together since
their days at Pineview Middle School.
``We see each other, know
where each other is going, so it's easy for us to make plays together,''
Poyssick said. ``Even when they double-team [Stacy], she can work out of it.
When she gets held back by the defense, she can set the ball through.''
Bishop doesn't mind sharing
the spotlight with Poyssick, though that isn't surprising if you ask King.
While Bishop doesn't say much, her feelings are clear to her coach.
``Yeah, she broke the
school scoring record last year, but she's a team player,'' King said. ``She
likes to see other people score. ... Sometimes we told her last year she's too
generous.''
Poyssick also has found she
can be effective even when not scoring. While the former forward always has
been offensive-minded, she has settled into a role which sometimes calls for
her to move to defense during games.
With the emergence of
Poyssick, the Gators expect to improve on last year's finish, in which they
reached the Class 3A regional quarterfinals before losing to Chamberlain, 3-1.
``If we're both on our
game, it's really hard to stop us,'' Poyssick said.