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Dunedin Soccer Trying To Break District Stranglehold

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Dunedin High School soccer player Theodore Aloizakis is one of four freshmen making an impact on this year's Falcons' roster.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: December 5, 2008

Updated:

DUNEDIN - Ever since Class 5A-District 9 was reconfigured three years ago, one thing has remained constant: East Lake and Palm Harbor University have been the kings of the pitch, leaving everyone else scrounging for scraps.

Change is not going to come easy for the five remaining teams filling out the district standings, but it appears Dunedin is next in line in the attempt to usurp the throne of one of the Big Two.

The Falcons (4-1-0) are playing this season with a solid core of returners from and up-and-down 2007-08 campaign and are being supplemented by the additions of impact performers like sweeper Carrington Hogan and midfielder Julian Collewijn.

Hogan, who opted for soccer over basketball this year, and Collewijn, a freshman, are both high-octane players who have immediately settled in with the rest of the team.

The ability of this year's roster to quickly mesh has fifth-year head coach David Rowe optimistic about these Falcons' chances.

"Last year we were always about one goal away from East Lake or Palm Harbor," he said. "I didn't know exactly what I was going to get this year, but they have all stepped up to the plate."

"I expected to do well, but it has just turned out to be better than anticipated so far."

Dunedin has thrived thus far via a strong, shutdown defense and an attack that is not afraid to put the ball on net. The Falcons have outscored their five opponents 11-3 and outshot them by a staggering 74-30 margin.

The high shot count is part of Rowe's coaching philosophy, which has led to six different Falcons finding the back of the net this season. As of Wednesday, T.J. Day leads with three goals and three others have two a piece.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hindman, playing in place of the injured Brian Kibbey, has also arisen to mind the net proficiently and tally 20 saves.

The large number of guys scoring goals makes it tough for Rowe to point to any one or two individuals who have guided the team so far. Day, Hogan, Collewijn, Gary Bajkowsky and Shane Deeley - not necessarily in that order - are the flood of names that initially came to mind when Rowe was confronted with the leadership question.

"Those kids have really made a big difference, but they've all just contributed throughout," he said.

With the proverbial blood now flowing after Dunedin's hot start, the month of December will allow the Falcons to see where they truly stand. Lakewood, Countryside and East Lake are all coming up before Christmas break, and the season's first, hard-fought defeat came Tuesday night at home against Palm Harbor, 2-0.

While the loss was discouraging, Hogan and Bajkowsky said afterward, it showed them what the team needs to do to get past their district nemeses. One of those main areas is simply steering everyone away from the mentality that teams like Palm Harbor are inherently superior - a factor that can sometimes end a game before it even starts.

The matches leading up to the winter break are key Pinellas County Athletic Conference dates. For now, however, the Dec. 18 showdown at East Lake will be pivotal in deciding District 5A-9 tournament seeding come January 26-30.

More likely than not, the winner of that game will be the No. 2 seed. Palm Harbor grabbing the No. 1 slot looks to be a near formality at this point.

What goes down from there will have to be seen come January, but Rowe said he can sense a different attitude coming from this team than in year's past.

"Practices are more intense and more serious," he said. "We're going game-speed from the time we start until the time we finish."

"You can just tell they know this month's going to be a test. My juniors and seniors know we've always come close. Hopefully we can put something together now."

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