| A look at the teams in the state tournament '98 |
Coach: Robin Chan
Brothers Stash (36 goals) and Steve Adams (13) lead a balanced attack by the Hustlers. Playmakers Eric Dutt (23 assists) and Matt Evans (15) start the charge from the midfield. Goalie Martin Garcia (0.65 gaa) has 15 shutouts this season. MCC makes its second consecutive trip to the state tournament. The Hustlers lost 2-0 to CCC in last year's final, but they beat the Marauders 2-1 on Feb. 14 at Melbourne. MCC also has quality wins this year over Class 4A state finalists Jesuit and Bishop Moore.
Coach: Jim Harte
The Marauders offense begins with Myles McAllister. When he's healthy, the senior forward creates his own offense by pressuring defenses, making steals, and burying his chances. Unfortunately, he's suffered through several injuries this year. In his absence, Chris Reardon, Fernando Bleichner, and Sean Heaberlin have had to pick up some of the scoring duty. In the back, CCC has tried several players at sweeper, but Kyle Dulin, one of the heroes from last year's state finals, should step up now at that spot. In the back, GK Tommy Malinosky has already shown he can stand up to the pressure of a shoot-out.
Coach: Dave Zimmerman
The Buccaneers have played a similar schedule to CCC's, featuring many of the state's toughest teams. The hard work has paid off, as Berkeley reaches the state playoffs for the fifth time in seven years, even though it has a losing record. Goalkeeper Dean Aranoutakis has kept the Bucs in several games, including a shoot-out win over Cardinal Mooney in the regional semifinal. Jody Keeling and Gerald Palacios are capable scorers up front. MF John Adkins and sweeper John Mashburn are also stellar. Berkeley beat MCC 3-2 earlier.
Coach: Dave McCarthy
Pensacola Catholic advanced to the state tournament as Steve Durkin scored all three goals in a 3-0 regional final win over Vero Beach St. Edward's. The hat trick gives Durkin 29 goals on the year, including six goals in the playoffs. Midfielder Jess Sheae has also come up big in the post-season with five goals. Goalkeeper Mark Williams leads a solid defense.
Coach: Mark Keymont
Bishop Moore spotted host Wakulla (10-8-7) a 2-0 half-time lead in the regional final before roaring back with four goals in the second half to win it. Senior Louie Paparella scored a hat trick to lead the Hornets. Paparella is the only senior on the young Hornets squad. Zeke Martinez scored his 18th goal and had a pair of assists against Wakulla. Mike Ross (17 g, 14 a) leads the team in midfield, and Andy Mund (13 g) can also score. GK Tommy O’Reardon has nine shutouts and a 1.2 gaa. Coach Mark Keymont is a former U. of Tampa player.
Coach: Tim Rachford
Mike Servis had a hat trick against No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in Osceola's 4-3 regional final win. Now, the No. 7 Warriors get a chance at revenge against the No. 9 Orlando Bishop Moore, the team that knocked them out of last year's playoffs. Chris Huber and Tony Mione also play a big role in the Osceola attack. This is the furthest the Warriors have gone in post-season play. Osceola is the only public school boys team still alive in Class 3A or 4A. The Warriors’ only losses this year are to No. 1 Jesuit.
Coach: Bob Baumann
The Tigers have a way to beat almost any opponent—just pass around them. Jesuit passes very, very well. That's why opponents can't just stop Shea Helmle. There's also Bennett Walters, Rob Daly, Chris Petorak, and a host of other Tigers waiting to pass and score. Sweeper Jeremy Poklemba is a rock in the back, and goalie Chris Simpson, although not tested often, is up to the challenge when called upon. Jesuit is defending Class 4A state champion and looks like a lock to repeat.
Coach: John Lynch
Bishop Kenny came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to top Daytona Beach-Seabreeze 3-2 in a shoot-out in the regional final. Bishop Kenny's Ricky Caraballo scored two second-half goals to force overtime. Jimmy Fishburne and Wes Mock scored in the shoot-out to ice the game. Unranked Bishop Kenny upset No. 4 Gainesville Eastside 4-1 in the regional semifinal.
There are no Pinellas teams in the 5A-state tourney. Top-ranked Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (27-2-3) is two-time defending champion and squeaked by Largo in a regional final shoot-out. Neptune Beach Fletcher (31-1) is also very strong, its only loss this year coming on PKs to Bloomingdale in the Puma tournament. Sarasota (22-6-1) defeated Countryside en route to its first state tourney appearance. River Ridge (19-8-4), which lost to East Lake and CCC this year, made it to the tourney by beating Flagler Palm Coast 3-1.
Coach: Steve Wagner
Neil Hildenbrand (27 goals) and Chris Zayas (15) are a complimentary pair of strikers, but East Lake attacks as a whole team. Midfielders John Murillo and Jeremy Cashman can also score. Sweeper Josh Laws and goalie Adam Hilderbrandt (0.7 gaa) were named to the Senior All-Star team. Outside defenders Ali Hajivandi and David Szucs are speedy and capable of coming up on the attack. The Eagles have never been to the state tourney before, but several players have made it to states on the club level with the Clearwater Chargers.
Coach: Jim Willenborg
American is ranked No. 1 in the Umbro/National Soccer Coaches Association of America national poll. It rolled to victory in the Elite division of December's Puma Invitational. The Patriots have never won a state championship, although they have made it to the state tourney four times in the 1990s. Forwards Fernando Valenzuela (22 goals, 12 assists) and Ryan Mattis (16, 8), along with midfielder John Pulido (12, 14) lead an attack that comes in wave after wave. Goalie Juan Vargas (0.23 GAA) has 24 shutouts, and defenders Steve Ortiz and Justin Ratcliffe are both strong.
Coach: Dave Tennian
Bloomingdale's lone loss came against American in the Puma tourney semifinals. Forward Chris Gatlyn (32 goals), midfielder Josh Lepley, and goalkeeper John Gustafson (0.8 GAA) would love to avenge that defeat. Casey Stump is a smart, fast sweeper, and marking back Steve Foglesong can shut down just about anybody. Goalie John Gustafson is a three-year starter who has a GAA below 0.60. The Bulls won state titles in 1993 and 1995 but lost to Countryside in last year's regional semifinal. Bloomingdale showed a lot of speed in its 2-1 regional final win over Tallahassee Lincoln. The Bulls are ranked No. 2 in Class 6A.
Coach: Gary Coleman
Western can strike quickly, as evidenced by its regional final win over Miami Beach. The Wildcats scored two goals in the first 10 minutes to down the Hi-Tides 2-1. This is Western's first trip to the state tournament, where it will face fellow first-timer East Lake. Nick Lucena and Chris Soler can both score for the Wildcats. Secret weapon Joe Kamrad comes forward from his sweeper position to make long throw-ins. GK Billy Whitten is strong in the net.
By Jeremy Rasmussen, ©1998 St. Petersburg Times
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