ST. PETERSBURG — With it being reasonably apparent that scoring chances might be limited, Sam Newhaller didn't want to let a good opportunity slip away when a perfect pass from Taylor Batye came her way in the 18th minute of Friday's Class 3A, District 10 final.
"I knew I had to get to the ball and keep working," said Newhaller, a Berkeley Prep forward. "It was a great pass."
Newhaller's shot slid just by the opposing keeper and was the only goal in the Buccaneers' 1-0 win.
"CCC really brought it today," Berkeley Prep coach Ken Roberts said. "They made it tough on us. This is a very good win."
And, for CCC (12-5-5), it wasn't a terrible loss. Berkeley Prep (17-4-2) beat the Marauders 3-0 just two weeks earlier. "We played that much better tonight," CCC coach Tom Typrowicz said.
That was especially true on defense, where the Marauders figured out how to slow down a Berkeley Prep team that had scored 14 goals in its past two games. "They took us out of our game," Roberts said.
Berkeley Prep's defense also was up to the task, particularly in the second half, when the Bucs kept the Marauders away from the net down the stretch. In the first half, CCC did have a few solid opportunities, but couldn't capitalize.
On one offensive attack, a shot attempt from forward Lindsey Cooper sailed just a bit high in the 23rd minute. Another chance went awry when a shot was wide 13 minutes later. "At least now they know they can play with them," Typrowicz said.
The difference, really, was one fantastic pass from a player hustling downfield and the terrific shot that followed. "That was a great effort by Taylor and a great finish by Sam," Roberts said.
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