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RSL takes Premier League title

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

nmurray@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2009

RSL Florida's boys under-16 squad completed an undefeated season, and won the club's first Region III Premier League title with two victories during the weekend.

Travis Jehs and Ricky McEwan found the net for RSL on Saturday as it defeated CESA Premier 2-0, and McEwan struck again Sunday, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win against Columbia United.

According to RSL coach Steve Wolf, earning the title was not just special for the players, but important. The side has suffered disappointment in the past in big events, losing in the final of the Florida State Cup in the last three seasons. Now it has already qualified for the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regional tournament to be held in Baton Rouge, La.

Wolf believes now that they have won a major title, sealing it with a pair of strong victories, the team's confidence will grow and it will allow the team to relax more when facing pressure situations.

"I think this is very important for the guys psychologically," Wolf said. "To get past this point and to win something big, because they've been through going to State Cup three years in a row and losing in the final. Now we've stamped our ticket to regionals, I think we can be a little more relaxed and a little less pressure on us going into State Cup."

Making this step, where a team learns to perform under pressure with a title on the line, can be a key moment in a player's and a team's development.

"That's something that champions do," Wolf said. "That's what it's all about, learning to deal with pressure and winning. Hopefully we can keep progressing from here."

RSL will try to continue that progress in little under a month as it competes in the United Soccer League's Super-Y North American championships.

Terriers solid at opening fall regatta

Hillsborough High's women's varsity 8 led the way as it took first place in the opening regatta of the fall season, the Head of the Hillsborough, on Saturday.

The crew of Amanda George, Sarah Scriven, Tasmin Evans, Kaslyn Bos, Madison Morley, Nina Joung, Meggie Watson, Holly Wong and coxswain Gina Javier completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19 minutes, 1 second to defeat Tampa Catholic by 18 seconds.

The Terriers also took second in the boys varsity 8 and varsity 4, leaving Coach Cory Conzemius happy.

"The team rowed very well," Conzemius said. "It was a good win to start the season, got the kids a chance to get on the water and see the level of the other local teams, which was fun for them, and it gave them an idea of where they stand now and gave them some points as to how they could improve over the next three weeks of regattas."

Four different schools took the main four races of the regatta, with Berkeley Prep winning the boys varsity 8 in a time of 18:03, Academy of the Holy Names winning the girls varsity 4 in 20:01 and Tampa Catholic's crew of Will Samela, Derek Natale, Josh Bickel, Joe Sullivan and coxswain Patrick Mayo winning the boys varsity 4 in 19:00.

The local crews now move on to the Halloween Regatta, which will take place Saturday at the Bypass Canal. Both Conzemius and Tampa Catholic coach Pat Huey are looking forward to getting more boats on the water, with the novices getting their first competition this weekend.

"Next week the Halloween Regatta is over a shorter distance, and we'll be able to get the novices on the water for that one," Huey said. "It should be interesting, we'll also have Plant to row against as well as Sarasota, so it should be a nice weekend next weekend as well."

Gaither/Sickles off to strong start

Six different players scored Friday night as Gaither/Sickles remained undefeated in the Lightning Conference High School Hockey West Division with a 6-2 victory against Dunedin/Countryside/Tarpon.

The defending combined-division state champion is 3-0, having only given up six goals on the season. Gaither/Sickles has also gotten solid production from returning players Nick Howell and Shane Hurley. Howell leads the team with four goals, while Hurley and Richard Hill have added three goals and two assists apiece.

Nicholas Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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