1999 Senior Soccer Challenge

By Jeremy Rasmussen

TAMPA - What began as a showcase for the area's senior soccer players has turned into a heated rivalry. Tonight's Sixth Annual SCORE Senior Soccer Challenge at Pepin-Rood Stadium pits the top boys and girls players from Hillsborough County against their Pinellas counterparts.

According to Challenge coordinator Frank Ferguson, the players are taking the competition very seriously. "At the Hillsborough organizational meeting, the first thing the kids said is that they wanted to beat Pinellas,'' Ferguson said.

Pinellas swept both the boys and girls games last year in high-scoring fashion. The girls won 4-2, and the boys came back from a 3-1 deficit to win 5-4.

"That boys game was as exciting a high school match as I've ever seen,'' Ferguson said. Besides a new crop of all-stars, there will also be a few new wrinkles in this year's Challenge. After a three-year stint at Clearwater Central Catholic, the Challenge moves to the capacious Pepin-Rood Stadium.

In order to give everyone more playing time, there will be 45-minute halves instead of the customary 40 minutes; and if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the teams will now play an MLS-style shootout.

The Challenge has also lined up $4000 in scholarships from corporate sponsors Raymond James, GTE, Coca-Cola, and Bay News 9.

As for the competition, Ferguson sees the Hillsborough teams as being "loaded" this year.

Imagine a front line with Jesuit's Shea Helmle and Gaither's Jeff Thwaites. Combine that with a back line that includes Jesuit's Jeremy Poklemba and Bloomingdale's Casey Stump.

"On paper, Hillsborough looks a little stronger,'' Pinellas boys coach Rick Masi said. "But in this type of game, anything can happen.''

Pinellas features plenty of firepower itself in St. Petersburg's Johnny Oldja and Vaso Arsenis and East Lake's Neil Hildenbrand and James Karr.

"We have some guys up front who can finish,'' Masi said. ""We just need to get them the ball.''

In the girls game, Tampa Catholic's Andi Tickles and Durant's Mandy Schumacher will lead Hillsborough against a Pinellas squad featuring Kerry Phillips and Amanda Green of state champion CCC.

Also going on this weekend: An exhibition game by USF and the Chargers Collegiate Showcase.

©1999 St. Petersburg Times.