State soccer to return to Tampa

The state boys and girls soccer championships will return to Tampa, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association.

FHSAA spokeperson Seth Polansky confirmed Wednesday afternoon that both state tournaments will be held at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium for the next two years.

According to the FHSAA web site, this season's girls state tournament will be played Feb. 9-12. The boys will play Feb. 16-19.

Both tournaments have been played at Pepin Stadium the past two years, but the FHSAA had reopened the bidding for both events to other sites in the offseason.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA (eencina@sptimes.com; Twitter: @EddieHometeam)