First 'campaign' over, second one for Lady Dolphin soccer team starts tonight
Top seeded Gulf Breeze could face fourth seed Navarre in tonight's district tourney semifinals
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Simply perfect The GBHS girls junior varsity soccer team beat Niceville 2-1 in their season finale Jan. 8. Not only did the win ensure an undefeated season (17-0-2), but it also snapped the Lady Eagles' 77-game winning streak, dating back to 2002. Players include (not in order): Katie Aldridge, Gina Bertelli, Sierra Bracaloni, Mallory Buechler, Jenna Ceravolo, Debi Cummings, Danielle Dobson, Megan Eastburn, Peyton Fleming, Morgan Floyd, Heather Haney, Kayli Hanke, Brittny Hebert, Breezy Paulus, Casey Platt, Katie Pratt, Hannah Sepulveda, Camila Sharp, Cori Snyder, Becca Timmons and Jessica Watson. Christie Caldwell and Jason Lavaway were the coaches and Carli Steinhauer was the team manager.

The season of the Gulf Breeze Lady Dolphin soccer team could be described like a presidential campaign. There've been some peaks (a pair of wins over Niceville, a tie to recent three-time state champion Nease, a win over Washington) and some valleys (losses to Chiles, Washington and two losses in the Michelle Akers Tournament).

Collins

Tonight's District 1-4A Tournament at Brosnaham Park could be described as their Super Tuesday, where 24 states go to polls to vote for their party nominee of choice.

A bad showing means disaster, while a strong showing could propel the Lady Dolphins into the equivalent of getting a party nomination (a trip to state) and eventually, the grand prize (a state championship).

In the past, the district tournament has been

two-team race (GBHS and Washington), but with Navarre and PHS having strong seasons, the tournament should be the most competitive in recent memory.

The Lady Dolphins are hoping their

campaign' has been strong enough. They enter the tournament on a high note, posting three shutouts to enter 2008 - the most recent of which a 1-0 win over Niceville Thursday.

Niceville, who like Gulf Breeze, made it to state last year, had what would be their best scoring chance only six minutes into the match. GBHS keeper Ashley Collins came out to challenge a shot, but the ball was chipped over the head and bounced off the left post.

Gulf Breeze dominated the possession in the first half, with Maggie Rodgers, Kristen Barona, Jesse Vickrey, Jessica Majewski and Aubrey Curington all putting shots on goal.

Platt

Collins made a diving save to her right in the closing moments of the first half, which ended with no score.

Barona hit the post on a shot in the 57th minute before Alyssa Smith's header off a Bianca Takacs free kick sailed wide in the 59th minute.

While the Lady Dolphin starters peppered shots at the Niceville net all match long, it would be a pair of reserves that would find the back of that net.

Natalie Blair put an initial shot on goal in the 71st minute. The ball was recovered by Cayla Platt, who pushed a low line drive in for only her second goal of the season.

Gulf Breeze had several chances to made it 2-0 before Collins made a pair of stops in the closing minutes to keep it from becoming 1-1.

Lady Dolphin JV 2, Niceville 1

Megan Eastburn and Morgan Floyd both scored as the Lady Dolphins snapped Niceville's 77-game winning streak, dating back to 2002.

Gulf Breeze's JV finished the season with a 17-0-2 record.