Is Soccer Is Better With Fire And Laser Beams? You Decide!

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Dec. 13 Game Result: Chargers 3: Indian Rocks Christian 3

The Girls Middle Division Soccer Green Team battled to a 3 - 3 tie with Indian Rocks Christian on Haskell Field on Tuesday, December 13. The Green Team opened the scoring with a beautiful shot from Kendall P. Other scorers were Olivia R. assisted by Nicole L. and Nicole L. unassisted. Further offensive support was given by Chayton H., Camille P., and Wendy D. Defensively, the Chargers were led by Mariah V. making her first ever start in goal, Olivia D., Caya S., Peninah B., Laura H., Kim B., and Naomi M. Alli and Sam E. continued their fine field play, and assistance was also given to the squad from Multi O. and Harsheen M.

The Green Team has an overall record of 2-2-1 going into the holiday break. Play continues at home on January 4 against Pinellas Prep with a 4 pm game.








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Nov. 16, 2011: Berkeley Prep 6, Chargers 0

The first game of the 2011-12 MD Girls Soccer season kicked off at the Florida Power field on Wednesday, November 16 with the Gold team losing 6-0 to a bigger, more experienced Berkeley Prep team. But the score was hardly the story of the game as the shock for many Chargers in playing their first MD game on a full-size field wore off by the first water break and the defense settled down. Four goals were scored by Berkeley by the water break but none after that before the second half. Goalie Olivia D. stopped 8 of 12 shots on goal, many in spectacular fashion.

In the second half, first-time goalie Jessie J. stepped in and handled 2 of 3 shots on goal -- a dramatic statement by a defense that rapidly learned from the game's start and visibly frustrated the visitors. Berkeley scored its final goal on a corner kick that Jessie initially handled but that ultimately scooted in on a rebound chip shot. Outstanding defensive work in the game was demonstrated by Elizabeth H., Madison H. and Multy O. The Chargers girls managed two shots on goal, both in the final 15 minutes, both by Sam E.

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Shorecrest MD Girls Soccer 1 Indian Rocks Christian 3 (Dec. 13)

The coldest game of the year for the Middle Division Girls Soccer team was on Monday, December 13 at Indian Rocks Christian. The game started with the referee encouraging players to wear sweatshirts under their jerseys and to put on hats and gloves — whatever would keep them warm.

The second of three goals scored against the Chargers in the first half came with two IRC strikers — not one, mind you, but two — waiting for a pass beyond Shorecrest's defenders and not being called for offsides. Not that the visitors had a monopoly on unhappiness with the game calling. The home coach received a rare yellow card in the second half for vociferously arguing a tripping call that actually favored her team.

The "discussion" consumed nearly seven minutes of playing time after the Chargers scored their first and only goal on a heads-up pass from Taylor A. to Kendall P. Highlights in the game included a hot hand by goalie Katie J., who stopped all eight IRC shots in the second half, keeping her teammates in the game. On the defensive side, Sage F., Multy O. and Caitlin B. played with great heart and made key plays.

The 3-1 loss drops the team's record to 6-3 overall, 5-1 against middle school teams.


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Shorecrest MD Girls Soccer 3 Indian Rocks Christian 2 (Nov. 30)

In one of its most hard-fought victories in the last four years, the Shorecrest Girls Middle Division Soccer team beat a tenacious squad from Indian Rocks Christian by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday, November 30. The game was remarkable in part for the way the Chargers' shots-on-goal attack changed at the half.

In the first half, the girls managed only one shot on goal, and fortunately it was productive, a point scored by Sophie W. (and assisted by Nicole L.). On the other side of the field in the first half, goalie Olivia D. allowed only one shot to score against the seven shots she stopped.

In the second half, the Chargers' offense came alive. Kendall P. took three consecutive shots on the team's first three possessions (eventually adding two more attempts). Holly M. took a shot on goal, and Sophie W. had two more attempts. Taylor A. made good on two of her six shots, enough to make the difference in the final score. Keeper Olivia D. stopped another five of six shots.

Coming through big on defense in the game were Brandee T. at sweeper and Sage F., who at one point in the second half was like a freight train streaking down the field from a defensive position to overtake an IRC striker on the verge of shooting and stealing the ball from her. The victory increased the MD Girls' record to 3-1.


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Shorecrest MD Girls Soccer 2 St. Stephens 4 (Dec. 8)

There was an upset in the making for the Shorecrest Middle Division Girls Soccer team on Wednesday, December 8, in Bradenton when the Chargers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half over the previously unbeaten St. Stephen's JV team. Goals by Sophie W. and Taylor A. led the way as the defense was a proverbial Great Wall of China.

But the lead shrank to 2-1 as the half ended, and St. Stephen's gave up shooting from close-in and began taking longer and higher shots on goal. That strategy served it well, delivering three unanswered goals for the St. Stephen's JV girls. It may have been a loss in the end, but the Chargers MD girls could hold their heads up high as the only squad this season to even challenge St. Stephen's. Before Shorecrest, only Berkley Prep had scored a single goal off St. Stephen's; all of its other victories were shutouts.

There were several breakout moments for the Shorecrest defense, including scrappy play by Caitlin B. and Amanda P. and high, booming kicks by Brandee T. and Kylie H. that saved potential goals from scoring and presented fresh opportunities to the offense.

The MD Girls Soccer team's record is now 6-2 (including a forfeit by Cambridge), but the girls are 5-0 against middle school-only teams!


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Shorecrest MD Girls Soccer 5, Keswick Christian 0 (Dec. 7)

The Middle Division Girls Soccer team continued its winning ways on Tuesday, December 7, with a shutout win over Keswick Christian at home. Five different girls scored in the game, beginning with Sydney B. (in the first three minutes), followed by Sophie W. (assisted by Holly M. and Multy O.) in the first half and Kendall P. (assisted by Sophie W. and Olivia R.), Olivia R. and Taylor A. (assisted by Caitlin B.). Additional shots on goal were fired by Kylie H., Laura H., Nicole L. and Cennedi M. Also contributing to the offense were Francesca J., Bailee M. and Olivia D.

On a cold day, the defense was red-hot, stopping all but three balls from reaching keeper Katie J. in the first half and allowing just one in the second half. Defenders who made especially good plays included Brandee T., Amanda P., Victoria V., Camille P., Wendy D. and Sage F. The win was the Chargers' fifth in a row.

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Shorecrest MD Girls 8, Tampa Prep 0 (Nov. 18)

The young Chargers girls MD soccer team jumped out to a huge 4-0 lead by the first water break of its Thursday, November 18 home game vs. Tampa Prep, led by two scores by Olivia R. (the first assisted by Sage F. and Kendall P.; the second assisted by Victoria V.), one by Kylie H. and a penalty kick by Sophie W.

After the water break, it was Holly M.'s turn to shine with back-to-back goals just minutes apart. In the second half the Chargers shuffled positions frequently, eventually gaining two more points on shots by Camille P. and Sophie W., whose second and final goal brought the game to an 8-0 end. In all, the offense made 26 shots on goal!

Among those taking shots were Nicole L., Bailee M. (3) Victoria V., and Francesca J. The defense really shone: neither goalie Katie J. in the first half nor Olivia D. in the second half even handled the ball, thanks to outstanding work by Brandee T., Kylie H., Sage F., Multy O., Wendy R., Sydney B., Laura H., and Amanda P.

 Photos by Bob Clingman, courtesy eBytes

Welcome to Shorecrest Girls MD Soccer 2010-2011

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Dear Parents and Players,

Welcome — or welcome back — to a new year of Shorecrest Middle Division Girls Soccer!

Coach John Hutton and I hope everyone will have a fun, enjoyable year in which both their athletic, interpersonal and leadership skills will develop and flourish.

The MD team is designed to provide both a stepping stone to Shorecrest's Jr. Varsity (Grades 8-10) and Varsity (Grades 8-12) teams... as well as a chance to learn a new sport for girls who previously never got around to soccer.

You'll find that while we expect a lot from the girls in terms of on-time attendance, good sportsmanship and effort, the atmosphere around the team is positive, encouraging and fun.

What's new? The big news is that we will have one MD team this year and that all 8th grade girls have been invited to try out for either JV or Varsity this year. Varsity Coach is Neal Wolfrath (he teaches 3rd grade at Shorecrest); JV coach is Christine Idinge (she teaches 7th grade algebra). 8th grade girls who don't feel comfortable playing for JV will, of course, be welcome to play for the middle school team. (And we might occasionally borrow an 8th grader on JV for MD!)

Because we'll only have one MD team this year, there will be lots more games!

8th grade girls who did not begin practice with Coach Wolfrath this week should plan to join one team or the other on Monday, October 25 unless they are still playing a fall sport. They must finish their fall sport first before they can join a winter team. Please make sure your daughter lets her coach know if she will be late coming out because of a fall sport.

A few things to know:

Equipment: For practice, each girl should wear shorts, t-shirt, soccer socks, NOCSAE-approved shinguards (referees will randomly check for this; there is a little tag on the shinguards or it should be indicated on the packaging), and cleats (plastic, not metal). We recommend sending in a supply of ponytail ties because they disappear quickly and are always in demand.

There are water fountains in the baseball dugouts, but if your daughter wants to bring her own water bottle or Gatorade, that's no problem. We insist on water breaks and hydration.

Do not wear to practice or games: earrings, wristbands, jewelry, necklaces, etc.

Practice: You'll receive a practice and game schedule from us in the next week or so. Every girl is expected to attend eery practice. That said, we understand that schoolwork, doctors appointments and other family issues do occur. When your daughter will miss practice, the coaches should be notified, preferably by her. Missing practice the day before a game will result in not starting that game, no matter what the player's ability.

Practice starts Monday, October 25 @ 3:15 p.m. on the softball field in front of the Sher Center. We will practice Monday through Thursday the first week and likely the week of November 1, as well.
Parents are welcome to watch practices; we might even put the willing ones to work!

Cuts: There are none. Everyone makes the MD Girls Soccer team.

Games: When you receive the game schedule, it will include both the game time and, if it is an away game, a reporting time when the girls must be on the bus to leave Shorecrest. Buses leave from the basketball court behind the gym. The buses wait for no player!

We love to have big turnouts of family and friends at our games, both home and away. Home games are played at the football field behind Shorecrest; away game maps and directions can be found on the Shorecrest website here: http://www.shorecrest.org/?page=ath_directions

Shorecrest charges $5 admission for adults and $2 for students to all middle school sports events; you can avoid this by joining the Booster Club. Here's how: http://www.shorecrest.org/?page=Booster_Club

Most away games will also have an admission charge, although it varies from school to school.

Parents Meeting: We'll schedule it for the first week of November, after practice. Stay tuned!

Team Parents: We need one or two parents to take charge of organizing post-game snacks at home and away -- and a pre-game snack for away games. Team parents will also coordinate parent volunteers at the Shorecrest concession stand and ticket booth, as well as organize an end-of-season award party. Volunteers should contact me directly.

Uniforms: The school will provide uniforms to all players. The girls are responsible for keeping these neat and clean during the season and returning them at the end of the season. (They can keep the socks we distribute!)

Roster:
Dulci B - 8th
Nadine S - 8th
Annie G - 8th
Alex P - 8th
Kylie H - 8th
Ana R - 8th
Caitlin B - 8th
Sionna M - 8th
Demi T - 8th
Amanda P - 7th
Tessa M - 7th
Peninah B - 7th
Bailee M - 7th
Sage F - 7th
Francesca J - 7th
Laura H - 7th
Victoria V - 7th
Katie J - 7th
Kai G - 7th
Holly M - 6th
Olivia D - 6th
Sophie W - 6th
Nicole L - 6th
Kendall P - 6th
Multy O - 6th
Camille P - 6th
Olivia R - 6th

By the way, we know some of the girls may be wrapping up fall sports or may be participating in Beauty & the Beast until the beginning of November. Please just let us know when they will be available to join us at practice.

And if your daughter wants to play but hasn't signed up yet, it's not too late!

Blog: The Shorecrest MD Girls Soccer team has a blog of its own. I post game results, schedules and schedule updates, elated news and links, and as many photos as parents can submit. You can receive email updates or subscribe via RSS: http://shorecrestmdgirlssoccergold.blogspot.com/ .

About the Coaches: Bob Andelman is in his fourth year as a MD Girls Soccer coach. His daughter, Rachel, is a 9th grader and the school and is a soccer player. Coach Andelman — a Shorecrest parent for 10 years – is a writer of books and magazine articles. He and his wife Mimi have been married for 22 years and live  on Snell Isle.

John Hutton is also in his fourth year as a MD Girls Soccer coach. He is a father of two daughters (including former Shorecrest PE instructor Amber Hutton) and a son, and a grandfather of five (with #6 on the way). Coach Hutton — a retired banker from upstate New York — has been on the faculty of the Shorecrest Lower Division for the past four years. This year he is assisting kindergarten teacher Meagan Conroy. He and his wife Bonnie have been married for 39 years and live in New Tampa.

We will make every effort to communicate with you via email whenever there is news about your daughter or the team, and you are welcome to contact me directly at this email address or at the phone numbers below if you have any questions at all during the course of the season.

Go Chargers!