Jan. 12 Results: Pinellas Prep 5, Chargers 1

It can be frustrating for a school team not to ring up a lot of wins during its season, but sometimes the measure of a team's success is not in the final score but in its growth and development. For the  Shorecrest MD Girls Gold soccer team, the 2009-10 season has been all about individual improvement rather than its overall record.

When Pinellas Prep came to Shorecrest on Tuesday, Jan. 12 to play Gold, Coach Andelman surprised the team by turning the usual lineup on its head, recognizing the hard work all season of girls who rarely begin the game on the field. These girls--led by Tessa M., Sionna M., Bailee M., Madison O. and Mandy P.--pulled a surprise of their own, playing at the very top of their abilities and inspiring their teammates on the bench to do the same. Tessa M., for example, played her best game of the season, earning extra playing time. Georgia L. scored her first goal of the season on a skillful, dramatic first half run to the goal, assisted by several teammates. Elle S. and Annie G. demonstrated great improvement in their ball-handling and ball-driving throughout the contest. Coach Hutton remarked, during the second water break, that the first part of the second half, "was the best 15 minutes of soccer we've played all season," as virtually the entire quarter played in front of the opponent's net. In goal, Dulci B. stopped 6 of 10 shots in the first half and Rachel A. was 4 of 5 as second half keeper. Nadine S., who pumped up her teammates before the game and has grown into a leader on the team, played aggressively for the entire 60 minutes, switching between offense and defense with ease. Also playing the entire game were speedsters Ana Gabriela R. and Katerina A., who have been disruptive forces against every Charger opponent this season. Cennedi M. and Rachel A. were two more players who raised their game with soaring kicks from the midfield and repeated defensive gems. Meredith L., whose game gets better each week, grew in defense with timely blocks and strong passes. In the final minutes, Madison O., Katie J. and Caitlin B. maintained the defensive pressure and prevented any further scoring. The final score may have shown a 5-1 loss, but there were many reasons to be proud of Gold on this night.