Jan. 16, 2008

The Women's soccer team ended their season with a 8-9 overall record and a Florida Sun Conference 2-3 record. The team won three more games than they did the previous year, a sign of continued growth under second year head coach Michelle Smith.

The season began with a 7-1 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic that smelled like and tasted like humble pie. That smell and taste seemed to remain with the team as they followed the loss with a five game winning streak.

The five game winning streak featured a 1-0 win over NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast. The often scoring cleats of Sandra Vargas placed the ball in the upper middle area of the goal after a precise pass by Jobeth Rameriz. The spectacular play was enough because goalkeeper Lea Jones put together one of her most impressive performances of the season making 10 saves. Florida Gulf Coast out shot the Bobcats 18 to five, it was one of the few games where the Bobcats did not control the ball and out shoot their opponent.

The Bobcats defeated Warner Southern 7-0 during the early five game winning streak also, it was the team's highest scoring performance of the season. Leading the abuse of Warner Southerns' goal was Vargas, who put together a hat trick. Tiffany Vega, Sharlene Quezada, Alexa Livingston, and Shanoska Young all scored a goal for the Bobcats. Warner Southern was so overmatched by the Bobcats that day they only attempted one shot in 90 minutes.

The team's only tie of the season ended the five game winning streak as the Bobcats and Palm Beach Atlantic met a second time and both failed to score in the double overtime contest. During the game St. Thomas out shot Palm Beach Atlantic 28 to 10, taking shots from an array of angles but unable to put the ball in the net.

The inability to make good on goals consistently continued through the next three games as the Bobcats only scored in twice and lost all three games. The Bobcats put a band-aid over the problem defeating Eckerd College. Vega, Frances Brlit, and Vargas put together the trio of goals necessary for the 3-2 win.

The win was truly like a band-aid as the Bobcats dropped their remaining four games which included a NAIA XIV Regional Tournament loss to the number one seed Northwood University 2-1. The late season struggles to score started when key players began missing games do to injury, namely leading scorer Vargas, second leading scorer Young, and third leading scorer Livingston.

Though ending the season with a loss is always disappointing the Bobcats were able to put together one of the school's better seasons in a while. The team was led by seniors Vargas, Vega, Carly Laskowski, and Melissa Guerra.

The conference recognized the play of the seniors and some of their teammates naming them to post season conference teams. More specifically Laskowski, Vega, and Vargas were all named to the All-FSC Second Team. Cindy Rivera and Alexa Livingston were named to the All-FSC Honorable Mention team for their play during the season.

Though finishing became an issue during the season good defense was not, as Laskowski and Melissa Chang prevented many of the Bobcats opponents from getting shots off. The Bobcats out shot their opponents 220 to 126 during the season.

When opponents were able to get through the Bobcat defense goalkeepers Lea Jones and Maria Mora provided an excellent last line of defense combining for 55 saves.