Soccer playoffs right around the corner for local squads

The Wharton Wildcats girls soccer squad is in the best position among New Tampa’s high school soccer squads heading into the new year.

The ‘Cats 8-4-3 record doesn’t drop anyone’s jaw, but they started the season 1-1-2 when goalkeeper Caroline DeLisle was still occupied with the Wharton volleyball team’s run into the Regional playoffs. Since her return, the Wildcats are 7-3-1, with a nice six-game win streak in the heart of their schedule.

DeLisle has 79 saves in 10 games, almost eight a game, which is tops in Class 5A, District 7 and second in the State in all of Class 5A. The Wildcats have been dominant, locally, with shutout wins against Wiregrass Ranch (3-0) and Freedom (4-0).

The Wharton girls, with a 3-1-1 record in District 5A-7, are in second behind perennial Pinellas powerhouse Palm Harbor University (PHU). The Wildcats lost 4-1 to the Hurricanes early in the season.

Plant will host the District playoffs, which begin Jan. 11, and the Wildcat girls are planning to make some noise. Senior Taylor Hubbard, a University of Alabama commitment, has eight goals and 14 assists so far this season. Speedy sophomore Alisha Deschenes and freshman Leanna Wunsch also have eight goals apiece.

Defender Casey Grotz is committed to North Florida University in Jacksonville and midfielder Natalie Ferrin is committed to Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville. Head coach Denis Vukorep said that he expects one more college commitment in January.

UPHILL BATTLE FOR PATRIOT GIRLS: The Freedom girls squad is mired in the very tough District 4A-8, where Pasco County’s Mitchell High is 16-0 and 5-0 in the district and the Patriot girls face a tough road. They are 4-6 (1-2 in the District) and in fourth place. The Pats will have to get through no less than two of the teams seeded ahead of them to sniff the playoffs, although they will have homefield advantage for the District tourney.

WILDCAT BOYS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE: The Wharton boys team has a similar problem as the Freedom girls. They are stuck in brutal District 5A-7, where four of the top six teams all have winning records. It’s so tough that the 2014-15 state semifinalists, Wiregrass Ranch, is only in third-place.

The Wildcats, winless in the district, were in last place at our press time. It will be a tremendous uphill climb for Wharton to scratch the playoffs, especially considering PHU hosts. Coach Scott Ware has his eyes turned toward the future, as five of his 11 starters are freshmen or sophomores. Only one senior starts for the ‘Cats.

“We hope that bodes well for the next year or two,” Ware says. “We’re young, we’re still trying to find our system.”

Junior forward Clifford Adjei has 10 goals on the season. In goal, the Wildcats split time between freshman Andy Ilken and senior Chris Moreno. Ilken is the one Ware appears to be grooming for the future — he had 18 saves at our press time to Moreno’s 21.

FREEDOM BOYS IN FIFTH: The Freedom boys team also is in a very tough District 4A-8, with Mitchell (11-4-1, 5-0) leading the way. The Patriots (3-6-2, 1-3-1) are in fifth in 4A-8. The Pats did post a 5-2 win over Sickles in early December.

Leto will host the District playoffs the week of Jan. 18.