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Soccer teams shuffle districts

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 11, 2009

The soccer season has begun, with many of the area's top girls teams changing classes and districts. Here is a brief look at one of the Northwest area's top teams, Berkeley Prep, and the breakdown of the rest of the area's district assignments.

Berkeley Prep

Coach: Ken Roberts
Last Season: 19-4-2 (Region finalist, lost to Boca Raton St. Andrews 4-3 in the region final)

Outlook: Berkeley Prep returns a deep lineup from last year's team and may have a good chance at a state title run. The Buccaneers return three of their top four scorers and have gotten healthy defensively.

"Certainly we are senior heavy," Roberts said. "So this is the year we kind of need to put it all together."

Looking to help put it together up top will be senior forwards Taylor Batye and Samantha Newhaller, who both had 12 goals last season. Berkeley runs mainly a standard 4-4-2, but the offense's biggest threat comes in the form of Taylor Richardson. Last season, Richardson led Berkeley in scoring with 27 goals and that shouldn't change this season as the dynamic senior figures to play a key role for the Buccaneers no matter if it's on offense or defense.

The defense will need to replace last year's sweeper and defensive captain Ashley Hartenbach, and will look to junior N.D. Ubezonu, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. The defense will also return starting defenders Anne Kelly and Megan Williams.

At keeper, the Buccaneers return sophomore Bryane Heaberlin, who had 71 saves last season.

Although only a sophomore, Heaberlin brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Buccaneers. Heaberlin, a member of the U.S. national U-17 team, will be a leader on the field for the Buccaneers and according to Roberts, "She gives confidence to everyone around her that they don't have to do it all because they can depend on her in the back."

Class 6A-District 8

Alonso - Coach: Scott Cunningham; last season: 16-6-1, region semifinalist, lost to East Bay 6-2 in region semifinals

Bloomingdale

Brandon

Plant

Wharton

Class 5A-District 9

Chamberlain - Coach: Kelly Champion; last season: 7-6-1

Freedom

Gaither - Coach: Trevor Scott; last season: 6-5-5

Hillsborough

King

Leto - Coach: Erin Dafeldecker; last season: 3-8-1

Sickles - Coach: George Arroyo; last season: 11-5-5, 6A-7 district champions, lost in overtime to East Bay in region quarterfinals

Class 4A-District 9

Blake

Jefferson

Lennard

Middleton

Robinson

Spoto

Steinbrenner - Coach: Teresa Patterson; this is the Warriors' first season

Strawberry Crest

Class 3A-District 10

Academy of the Holy Names

Berkeley Prep

Clearwater Central Catholic

St. Petersburg Catholic

Tampa Catholic - Coach: Ary Castillo; last season: 2-6-1

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