Short-handed Lady Dolphins edge Navarre
. Rodgers header the game-winner
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Maggie Rodgers (14) chases down a ball in a recent Lady Dolphin match. Rodgers' header with five minutes left Saturday gave GBHS a 1-0 win over Navarre.

Even without half of their original starting lineup, the Lady Dolphin soccer team found a way to win.

Maggie Rodgers headed in a cross from Noelle Robles with five minutes left to give Gulf Breeze (6-3-1) a 1-0 win over Navarre Saturday at Dolphin Stadium.

With junior starters Aubrey Curington, Amanda Green, Alyssa Smith and Jesse Vickrey all at a college showcase tournament in North Carolina and senior keeper Ashley Collins at a tournament in Birmingham, coach Sharon Kerby looked to some reserves to play some big minutes.

Sophomore defender Brynne Heatley made her first start and played all 80 minutes, while senior Lindsey Arnett played 77 out of 80 minutes in the back as well.

Cayla Platt played almost 70 minutes in the midfield, while Carly Loehr, Colleen Eastburn, Lindsey Wright and Natalie Blair all played some pressure minutes. Regular starters Rodgers, Robles, Bianca Takacs, Brittany Pyle and Jessica Majewski only got three breathers - the two water breaks and halftime.

With senior keeper Kathy Franklin sidelined with a knee injury and Anne Preston's transfer to Navarre earlier in the week, Kerby pulled up sophomore Lauren Davis to be the keeper. She played all 80 minutes.

Both defenses were tested early with Pyle knocking a breakaway ball away from Alex Hermann in the ninth minute and Jenny Wells (a former Lady Dolphin player) breaking up a run from Robles two minutes later.

Neither keeper - Davis or Navarre's Kim Pace - saw a lot of activity in the first half, which ended with no score.

Rodgers had several runs down the right side in the second half, threading several dangerous balls into the box, hitting the crossbar with one in the 73rd minute.

Robles was taken down in the box a minute later, but Pace made a diving save to her right on the penalty kick by Kristen Barona.

Navarre cleared out the initial corner kick after the PK before Robles sent in the rebound that Rodgers put away.

The Lady Raiders looked to have tied it with two minutes left, but Brittany Willis was called for a hand ball, redirecting a rebound off Davis into the net.

GBHS JV 1, Navarre 1

Gina Bertelli scored for GBHS (9-0-1), who suffered its first blemish of the season.

Washington 2, GBHS 1

The Lady Cats, who were held out of the net in three matches with GBHS last season, scored twice in a six minute span for a come from behind win Nov. 28.

Rodgers scored in the 60th minute after fielding a pass from Vickrey and making a long run. But Washington would take advantage of a questionable call in the box to tie it with a PK in the box.

Six minutes later, Sami Harris put away a failed clear past a diving Preston. Eight of GBHS' 10 positions players played all 80 minutes. GBHS JV 8,Washington 0

(68 minutes)

Morgan Floyd had two goals and two assists, while Camila Sharp had a goal and two assists as Gulf Breeze mercy ruled Washington.

Jenna Ceravolo had a goal and an assist, while Megan Eastburn, Sierra Bracaloni, Jessica Watson and Danielle Dobson all scored once.

The goal for Bracaloni was her first of the season. Davis and Breezy Paulus combined on the shutout.