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Highlands Today

Sebring girls soccer 'building for two years'

Ryan Lavner, Highlands Today

Sebring freshman Hannah Schroeder squares up a shot during a recent Blue Streaks practice. Schroeder is one of six freshmen who could see significant playing time this season for the Blue Streaks, who kicked off their season with a district game against Lake Wales on Tuesday.

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By RYAN LAVNER

Highlands Today

Published: November 4, 2009

SEBRING - Sebring girls soccer coach Steve Ashley insists that he's not apprehensive about trotting out four, five, maybe even six newcomers this season.

That should tell you a little something about this freshmen class.

"I've been at this for 24 years, and I've been on all sides of it," Ashley said earlier this week. "We're really building for two years. We're starting a lot of the younger players, so it's going to take them a little bit of time to figure it out."

Ashley and the rest of the Blue Streaks weren't afforded that luxury this season, however. They began Class 5A-District 5 play Tuesday at Lake Wales, which figures to contend for the one of the coveted top two spots in the district.

Even Ashley concedes: "There are a lot of question marks."

Chief among them: the freshmen.

Midfielder Hannah Schroeder is expected to play big minutes for Sebring this season, but even she is an unknown commodity. She has played YMCA ball for the past seven years, on a team coached by her dad and grandpa.

Varsity will provide an entirely new set of challenges, but Schroeder said she is unfazed.

"Nope, not really," she said when asked if she was nervous about facing bigger, more experienced players.

"I just hope we play our positions and play as a team."

Midfielder/forward Karrie Lester made her varsity debut last season, when the Blue Streaks, replete with seniors, still finished around .500 for the second straight year.

She, too, was not concerned about the incoming freshmen class.

"There are a lot of them that should do a lot on this field," said Lester, a junior. "We've got some good players that can step up in those spots."

Sebring is still without McKenzie Hargaden and Jamie Faircloth - both play fall sports - and Ashley said both "should get plenty of playing time this season," based on their play last year on JV.

Ashley said conditioning is always an early-season concern, as is Sebring's inexperience on offense.

"I think you always want to see what your team can do in your opponent's end of the field in terms of getting some good looks to score," Ashley said. "I don't think we have that one big go-to person that we've had in other years, but I think the team chemistry is a little better than it has been. The girls seem to be encouraging each other and working well together, but it's hard to tell until you play somebody.

"We're going to be using our bench a lot, and my main concern is that we can come out of these matches without injuries and that we'll be in one piece at the end of the season."

Ryan Lavner can be reached at 863-386-5841 or rlavner@highlandstoday.com

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