By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Published March 13, 1998
(this is the unedited version)
Clearwater Central Catholic gets a
chance at redemption in tonight's Class 3A, South II regional
semifinal against No.2-ranked Miami Gulliver Prep.
Ever since CCC lost 4-1 to Gulliver earlier this season,
Marauders coach Jim Harte said he has been obsessed with what his
team could do to stop the Raiders. ""I really think
that beating (Gulliver) is the key to winning the state this
year,'' he said.
Harte believes he has devised a plan. Without divulging too many
of the details, he said that it involves bottling up Gulliver
superstar Luchi Gonzales.
""You have to keep him moving backward with defensive
pressure,'' Harte said. ""You can't give him time to
make passes, or he'll pick you apart.''
According to longtime CCC assistant Andrew Castenheiro, when
Harte has a plan, it usually works: ""Jim is a master
of coming up with a strategy, preparing the team for it, and then
having them execute it. I've never seen a situation where he
didn't have an idea of how to beat it.''
Before CCC's regional quarterfinal against Santa Fe Catholic,
Harte said the team would try to get out to an early lead then
""sit on it.'' The Marauders scored on a goal by Myles
McAllister in the first 20 minutes, then entrenched their defense
to preserve a 1-0 win.
After graduating most of the team that won consecutive state
titles and playing a killer schedule, Harte has been challenged
to come up with winning strategies all season.
The Marauders have tried five different players at sweeper. The
latest is Kyle Dulin, who has spent much of the season drifting
around in the midfield. Dulin came up big as a defender in last
year's playoffs, and the Marauders will need him to step up now
after a sub-par regular season.
CCC has also endured in many games without McAllister, who has a
recurring leg injury. Playing ""forward by committee''
has led to a lack of continuity in the offense, but Harte said
that team typically comes up with just enough goals to get by.
""This certainly has been one of my most difficult
coaching seasons, but it's been one of my most rewarding as
well,'' he said.
©1998 St. Petersburg Times
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