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Highlands Today

Winter Sports Open On The Pitch

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebring's Sadie Adams (11) works the ball up the field during last year's Class 4A-District 10 tournament. The Blue Streaks host LaBelle in the season opener at 7 tonight at Firemen's Field.

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: October 30, 2007

SEBRING –– Forget about a gold watch for retirement –– Steve Ashley would rather watch goals.

Especially those off the feet of his Sebring girls soccer team, which opens the winter sports season tonight when they host LaBelle at 7 p.m. on Firemen's Field.

The Blue Streak coach, who retired form the Highlands County school board this past May, is looking forward to the season ahead, and he's not the only one in his household doing so: Senior Rachel Ashley returns to the pitch for her senior season after two years on the Blue Streak basketball team.

Four starters return from last year's squad, which managed just three victories in 15 games, but coach Ashley is looking forward watching his team light up the scoreboard a bit more this season.

"We weren't a very good offensive team last season," coach Ashley said. "We didn't come up with a lot of ways to score, but this year, we're moving the ball around a lot better and our midfield is much-improved."

Seniors Sadie Adams and Janeli Roman, junior Rowan Taylor, speedy freshman Amanda Grimaldi and left-footed Avon Park transfer Destiny Wise are expected to carry the scoring load this season, while senior keeper Rebecca Secory reaplaces last year's starter, Samantha Lower, who chose not to play this season to focus on a traveling softball team.

"Rebecca's very quick and she reacts well in that position," Ashley said, noting he's coached Secory for five years. "She communicates very well with the defense and has a knack for positioning everyone."

The defense, meanwhile will be led by junior Heather McIntyre.

"We have the potential to be a good passing team or a long-ball team," coach Ashley said. "We're a little more skilled and speedy this year, and I think we have the potential to score some more goals."

The Streaks play twice this week. Other than tonight's game against LaBelle, the Streaks play host to Lake Placid on Thursday night. Both games are slated for 7:30 starts.

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