- November 23, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Seabreeze coach Kim Merkel watches her team from the sideline. Photo by Ray Boone
A Seabreeze player fights for the ball against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Ericka Dane throws the ball in against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Riley Stoner passes the ball to a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
The Sandcrabs' Ericka Dane prepares to pass the ball to a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
The Sandcrabs' Clare Cassidy passes the ball to a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze keeper Danielle Zahnen kicks a ball downfield. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Riley Stoner fights for the ball against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
The Sandcrabs' Kara Haas dribbles the ball against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
By all accounts, Seabreeze girls soccer’s 2018-19 season was a success.
The Sandcrabs won 14 games, lost 7, tied one. They beat Eustis 2-1 on Jan. 31 to capture the district championship. And they beat Lecanto 2-1 on Feb. 5 to advance to the second round of the Class 3A Girls Soccer State Championship Tournament, where they lost 4-1 to eventual Final Four-bound Eastside.
The Sandcrabs’ goal for the 2019-20 season?
“We want to win more,” senior forward Kara Haas said. “At least a district title — hopefully further.”
To do that, the team will have to bond more, Seabreeze head coach Kim Merkel said.
“We need to build up our chemistry so we can play more unified,” she said. “The wins will come easier.”
Despite last year’s success, Seabreeze — who opened the 2019-20 season with a 3-0 loss to Flagler Palm Coast the night of Tuesday, Nov. 12, at FPC High School — struggled finishing. And it appears that may be a problem again this year, as the Sandcrabs failed to put a shot on-goal against the Bulldogs.
“You just have to keep working on shots, making the runs, pushing the ball,” Merkel said.
The biggest area of need, however, might be the Sandcrabs’ defense. The Sandcrabs graduated a plethora of talent, including senior defensive ace Ashtyn Pascoe, who now plays college soccer for Daytona State.
“She was a big loss,” Merkel said.
