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Bolts Make Strong Road Start

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2008

The Tampa Bay Bolts swept a weekend series with the Florida Eels in Fort Myers, putting them in a tie for the Florida Division lead in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.

Trevor Wight and Jacob Stitz each scored hat tricks in the opening game on Saturday night, a 10-5 win keyed by a five-goal third period, while Scott Schilson added a pair of goals.

Schilson and Stitz also found the net on Sunday, as the Bolts (3-1) held on for a 5-4 win.

General Manager Neal Nachman, who was filling in for Don Kiernan after the coach was recuperating after a motorbike accident during the week, said he was pleased with the way the team appeared to be coming together.

"Our guys played well, we picked up a few injuries, but the guys played a good 60 minutes of hockey, so that's good to see they're coming together," Nachman said. "The way they've played all four games, they've played well, and they're really coming together. I feel we should be undefeated, in the first game that we lost we outshot the team by 26 shots on net, and outplayed them for the whole game.

"But we're pretty happy with where we're at, and the guys are jelling very well."

The Bolts will travel to Hackensack, N.J., this weekend for a three-game showcase, continuing what will be 12 games away from home ice to start the season. The time away from home ice is giving the Bolts a chance to get to know each other off the ice, as well as on, but Nachman said the team is eager to open its hope schedule Oct. 25.

"It's a little rough with the schedule, because we're still waiting to play our first home game," Nachman said. "But to be 3-1 on the road to start the season is pretty good, and hopefully we can continue to win games on the road, then once we get home we have a bunch of games in a row, that'll be good to get back home.

"Everyone's bonding well together, and really enjoying talking to each other and hanging out together, which is definitely carrying over out onto the ice."

Strictly Soccer Riding Wave Of Success

The Strictly Soccer boys Under-17 team has continued the run of success that began over the summer when it reached the U.S. Club Soccer National Championships.

In the last month, the team won its division at the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier at the Wide World of Sports Complex, and is 5-1-0 in the Club Directors League, topping its division. The team pulls players from the bay area, including Trevor Berecz, Spencer Muratides, Josh Munch, Jake Felman, Quinn Ebright, Ian Connelly and Jake Bennett, all of whom were in the squad as Strictly defeated Hillsborough County United 1-0 in the Disney final to earn its place in the full showcase championship in December.

"There was a lot at stake," Coach Hans Burt said. "Very intense. If you were a Florida team, and you didn't win state, the only way to really get into that showcase tournament is to finish first or second in the qualifier."

As a result of that, Strictly's semifinal against Space Coast United proved the most critical game of the weekend. Strictly advanced to the final, and secured its place in the showcase with a 2-1 win.

"For both teams, it's an all or nothing game," Burt said. "We told the kids they couldn't worry about the final. The final is the semifinal to be in the showcase at Christmastime. Obviously, that's where the majority of college coaches recruit, so for a 17-year-old who is trying to play in college, it's kind of a do-or-die situation for both teams."

The squad went winless at the National Championships in July, in part due to mental lapses that gave away late goals. Burt said he thought the team learnt from the flaws they displayed then, and the difference was evident at Disney.

"Sometimes you have to be hurt to understand that you have to maintain that concentration level," Burt said. "You can yell at them 'til you're blue in the face, but until things go wrong, they really don't learn that."

In addition, coming out of Disney, the team has maintained its quality of play, something that has pleased Burt greatly. Strictly maintained its form with a 4-0 win against Black Watch on Sunday.

"We've kept the quality up after the qualifier," he said. "A lot of times you expect a let-down in the next game and so on, but we really didn't have that let-down, and I think that has to do with the depth we have. When you have 30 players involved, fighting for a roster spot."

Letson Takes Fifth At FJT Opener

George Letson from Tampa finished fifth in the Florida Junior Golf Tour's opening under-18 tournament of the season at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota, shooting a two-round total of 147, five shots back of champion Drew Guffey from Bartow.

Letson, who plays for Plant High and had won his first FJT title last season, shot a pair of consistent rounds, opening with a 74 and closing with a 73. Riverview's Ian McConnell finished in a tie for 10th with a total of 151 after an opening round of 78 put him out of contention for the title.

Amy West from Valrico finished in a tie for ninth in the girls event as she finished with a total of 161, 13 shots behind Christina Miller of Atlanta.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 or at nmurray@tampatrib.com Keyword: Youth sports, for more news, notes and live game reports.

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