By ERIC
RANGUS
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 19, 1998
TAMPA -- The Jesuit school record for fewest goals allowed in a season is 19. As the Tigers enter the state final four, their 1997-98 total stands at 18.
The mark is a testament to Jesuit's nonstop pressure on offense, which keeps the ball in their opponent's end for huge chunks of the game. But it is the Tigers' last line of defense -- goalkeeper Chris Simpson -- who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the enemy stays out of the Tiger goal.
And as the numbers say, he's excelled.
In 231/2 games, Simpson has allowed just 15 goals and notched 12 shutouts, including two in the regional playoffs. He's quick to share the spotlight, too.
"Our defense has done really well," said Simpson, a senior who will attend USF in the fall and attempt to walk onto the men's soccer team. "I have to give them a lot of credit."
A big help is the fact that Simpson plays club ball with defenders Jeremy Poklemba and Kevin Miskel. That experience has them in synch on almost every play.
"Jeremy and I have played together for four years, and we're mostly on the same page. We always know what the other's doing," Simpson said.
"Our defense has played really well all year," said Jesuit coach Bob Bauman. "When the opponent has gotten through, Chris has made the big save. He's excellent on and off the field, he provides the team with leadership, direction and focus."
Last year's Tigers, fighting through a rash of injuries, started slowly, but recovered nicely to finish 18-9-5. This season, Jesuit bolted out of the gate and with a 27-1-3 record has never slowed down.
"'Our record last year wasn't very good, so a lot of teams blew us off," Simpson said. "This year, we're ranked No. 1 and every team we play this year is gunning for us."
Much of the burden of repeating will fall on the Jesuit defense -- something the Tigers are ready for with Simpson at the controls.
"You can shut down an attack by telling the defense where to go," Simpson said. "A goalie who helps the defense out is a key part of the game. A lot of people overlook that."
©Copyright 1998 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.
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