Harmony girls may be dominant again; OHS boys seek title

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
For the past two seasons teams from Osceola County have gone deep into the regional playoffs.
Harmony’s girls have developed into a perennial state tournament contender, and Osceola’s boys enjoyed their best season ever, reaching the regional final.
Harmony, Osceola, Çelebration, St. Cloud and Liberty compete in district 4A-6.
Gateway plays in district 5A-5, and Poinciana competes in 2A-8.
Harmony’s girls and Gateway’s boys are the defending Orange Belt Conference champions.
Harmony
Harmony Coach Stephanie Jones has turned the Lady Longhorns into a soccer juggernaut, with three straight trips deep into the regional playoffs, including a 2011 final four berth.
The Lady Longhorns were 15-4-1 last season, but were disappointed after a 3-0 loss at Daytona Beach Seabreeze in the regional semfinal round.
“We are always looking forward to a deep run, but its always a bit up in the air until season gets started,” Jones said. “I lost three starting seniors and two returning juniors, so we find ourselves in a bit of a transition year again.”
The Longhorns still have talent like defender Kendall Pollock and forward Kaley Ward, who are seniors and four-year varsity starters.
“We will be counting on them to be the leadership and driving force of the team,” Jones said.
Jones said the defensive core will return in seniors Patricia May and Alexis Plattner.
Junior Breana Plattner will be a leader in the midfield, the coach said.
“I also am fortunate to have gotten some incoming freshmen that show some great potential,” Jones said. “We are currently in the process of working out combinations tactically to see how it all fits together. I have been in this business long enough to know that the plans I set and the vision I see don’t always come to fruition, but as a group we are excited to see how the season will come together.”
Harmony opened with an 8-0 win over St. Cloud.
The Harmony boys were much improved last season, winning 10 games under Coach Scott Marlega.
“We are very confident in our side. We look to be in contention in both the OBC and district races this year,” Marlega said.
Seniors Nick Craig (midfield), Chris Huff (midfield), Andrew Harrison (center back) and goalkeeper Alex Grieve return.
Marlega said Grieve, at 6-4, can track down most shots.
“He has tremendous reflexes and has no problem giving up his body to make a save,” he said.
Celebration
Coach Ed Kuzma returns for the Lady Storm and seeks to continue a streak of 10 straight winning seasons.
Senior Lexi Stephan (36 goals, seven assists) returns to lead the team that will start as many as six freshmen, Kuzma said.
Also back are juniors Caroline Strogis (20 assists) and Rachel Barry.
“They have played all over the field for us and have made valuable contributions everywhere we have put them,” Kuzma said. “We have four to six freshmen who will start or have a large impact on our team, and one or two new upperclassmen.”
John Prow takes over the Storm boys. Celebration, after reaching the state tournament in 2011, did not escape the district tournament last year.
“I am new to the team and have had just a few weeks to get to know them, but what I can tell you is that I think we should be competitive against anybody,” Prow said.
John Birchall returns in goal for the Storm, and the team also is strong at forward with Jose Perez and at midfield with Jhesu Pardo de Figueroa and Sam Rooks.
“Those three all bring a different skill set, are motivated and should be a very difficult trio to play against,” Prow said. “We have experience and skill all over the field. They believe in themselves and have set the bar high.”
Osceola
Bill Jakoby takes over the OHS boys after Tom Bell stepped down. The Kowboys, 22-7-1, enjoyed their most successful season in 2011-12, reaching the regional finals for the first time
With many of those players returning, including leading scorer Maikel Bonilla (38 goals), a senior, Jakoby said the team could build on that success.
“We expect to defend our district title and take care of some unfinished business from last year. There are very good teams in Central Florida and we hope to compete with the best of them,” Jakoby said. “We put together a challenging schedule to ensure we are getting the best out of our players.”
Bonilla has been extended an invitation to try out for the Costa Rican U-20 National Team for the World Cup.
Also returning is senior Manny Serrano, a forward, who scored 22 goals last season. David Cruz, a senior, and his bother, Jonatan Cruz, a junior and the team’s goalkeeper, return. Also back are senior midfielders Andres Ramirez, Gio Perez, Willie Colon and Eric Alfaro, and juniors Austin Richards and Tim Elsterman.
Senior defensive back Renny Siera-Aponte and junior Luis Medriano along with sophomores Adalraziel Santos, Josh Marsh and Jankar Solano are on the roster. Freshmen John Bohorquez, Jose Teio, Alex Medina and Michael Debastia also are on the varsity.   
The Kowboys are off to a 2-0 start to the season after district wins against Poinciana (2-0) and Lake Minneola (1-0). Bonilla scored all three goals.
OHS beat Winter Park (3-2) and Lake Nona (2-1), at the preseason tournament at Winter Park. Bonilla scored three goals and Serrano had two during the tournament.
The Lady Kowboys lost one of the county’s all-time scoring leaders (200 goals) to graduation in Leah Mullins, and Coach Mark Ausherman said it will be difficult to replace the talent that left after last year’s 12-4 season that saw the Kowgirls advance to the regional quarterfinals.
“It’s a rebuilding year with only seven returning varsity players,” Ausherman said.
Leading the way are seniors Allyah Agudelo (defender) and Kiera Koroitamudo (midfielder) and goalie Courtney Ausherman, a junior.
Also on the varsity roster are senior Karina Tiantasig, juniors Emily Newsom, Stefany Medina, Rosa Chavez and Larasa Stone, and sophomores Kaley Clopton, Stephanie Lara, Veronica Londono, Nihoska Cruz and Carla Hernandez. Three freshmen, Britny Fernandes, Portia Tilley and Titiana Gonzalez, also are on the roster.
Liberty
The Liberty Lady Chargers return 15 players under Coach Kim Holt.
Captain Katia Rivas, a senior, was the team’s leading scorer last season.
Also returning are sophomores Katlin and Nicole Holborn, two more of the team’s leading scorers. Junior Tajary Ballentine is back in goal.
“With so many returners this year, the varsity squad is looking to increase their wins and ability to play together as a strong competitor in the OBCs,” Holt said.
Gateway
Coach Oswald Attin guided his team to the OBC championship and the regional semifinals last season, but lost nine players to graduation.
Attin will rely on returning seniors Carlos Rojas and Hans Ramirez to lead a young team.
“I am confident that the boys will play to the best of their potential,” he said.
Eddie Fernandez took over the Lady Panthers team just before the regular season after Andres Rivera stepped down.
St. Cloud
The Bulldogs were a dangerous foe under coach Weylan Craig last season and reached the regional semifinals.
Seven players return from that team including captains Carlos Gomez and Nick Askey.
Other veterans are Santiago Gutierrez, Chile Loch, Devin Henson, Stephon Moise and Gabriel Sanin.
Craig said Joseph Santos is a potential “game-changer” because of his scoring ability.
“With fewer games and seven returning starters, we hope to avoid the injuries that plagued us toward the end of last season,” Craig said.
Shawn Beck is the new Lady Bulldogs coach.
“I am excited about our team and looking forward to a positive and rewarding year,” he said.
Seniors Ashley Owens, Kristin Detroyer, Melissa Arft, Nichole Delaconchanazario and Melissa Lawyer are among the Lady Bulldogs players.
Poinciana
Daniel Habel returns as the Eagles boys coach.
Among the returning players is senior Cristian Ramos.
Ryans Calmont is back as the girls coach. The Lady Eagles are led by returning seniors Estelle Esperance and Gabrielle Rodriguez.
New Dimensions
Coach John Timmerman’s boys squad includes senior Sebastian Santaella, Shane Garcia, Abimael Carvalho, Brandon Giron, Jaylen Ortiz, John Moncayo, Junau Francois and Jesus Hernandez.
Blaine Bess coaches the Lady Tigers.
He believes Andrea Giron and Natalie Hurtado will lead the girls squad to success in District A-5.