Jesuit goalie Trowbridge a forgotten man on great team

Jesuit goalie Trowbridge a forgotten man on great team

TAMPA –After winning three consecutive state titles, internal motivation may be the only thing standing between Jesuit and a fourth.

Jesuit (30-1) was ranked No. 2 nationally in a poll that came out last week. And the Jesuit players feel that ranking is justified. Just ask goalie Justin Trowbridge.

"We’re not overconfident,’’ he said. "Basically, if we play well, no one can beat us. We’re as good as any team in the nation. We’re not taking the other teams lightly. We just need to match their intensity and play above their level.

Trowbridge and the Tigers defense has been playing at a level unprecedented even for the storied Jesuit program. This season, the defense has allowed 17 goals in 31 games. The school record for fewest goals allowed in an entire season is 19.

It’s easy to lose track of a talented keeper like Trowbridge on a team with the likes of Rob Daly (51 goals) and Bryce Wegerle (31). But Trowbridge has done his share to keep the Tigers in close games.

Against Sarasota Riverview, he saved two breakaways, and stopped a free kick late in the game, and against Melbourne Central Catholic, he stopped a sure goal on a free kick in the final minute. Jesuit escaped both games with 1-0 wins.

Trowbridge trains once a week with Kevin Keelan, the legendary goalie of Norwich City in the English Premier League.

"(Keelan)’s helped me immensely, both mentally and physically,’’ Trowbridge said. "He teaches me what to do in certain situations, how to react, how to be aware of what’s going on around me.’’

Trowbridge has also gotten a lot of help in the back from sweeper Erol Belli, who moved to the back from his forward spot this season.

"We’re good friends off the field as well as on,’’ Trowbridge said. "That helps us have good communication, organize the defense, and pick each other up if we make mistakes.’’

If an unprecedented fourth title and the stingiest defense records are not enough to motivate Jesuit, perhaps this will--if Jesuit wins the state championship, it will be Bob Bauman’s 300^th victory as a high school coach.

"We feel we can win, but we have not already won,’’ Bauman said. "The whole point is to show we’re the best. If our attitude is that we know we’re the best and don’t perform up to the level we’re capable of, we will struggle.’’

-- Jeremy Rasmussen