By Tamas Mondovics
The 2014 winter soccer season proved to be one that the Randall Middle School Lady Hawks will not soon forget as the program won the 2014 Hillsborough County Championship early last month.
The championship win was the second county title victory in three years for the girls who enjoyed great support from their school and parents.
“This is a big win for the school and the girls and they deserve to be recognized for this great achievement,” said team mom, Dena McElerney, whose daughter, Corinn, a seventh grade student agreed when she said, “Winning the championship was such a great moment. Words can’t really describe how proud and overjoyed I was.”
Rightly so as with a full roster and a 9-0 record defeating Eisenhower, McLane, Burns, Barrington, Mann, Rodgers, Turkey Creek, Farnell and Bartels to boast about, the Hawks had every reason to be proud.
“We had a few curveballs along the way, but it was a fantastic season,” said head coach, Sean Farrell.
The Hawks won two of its games due to forfeit, but Farrell said for the rest of the games the effort, commitment and hard work paid off,” said Farrell.
While each member of the team did its part and the entire program enjoyed the support of the younger players, Farrell emphasized that the roster, which was larger than most and heavy with eighth grade players, proved to be a core component of the team by taking the lead and setting the example to the younger players.
Jessica DenHaese, Andrea Tamato, Michaela Vivirito and Kassidy Rasvillas anchored a strong defense allowing only one goal during the regular season.
The senior players on offense included Jenna Oldham, Emma Milligan, Abby Sutton, Hanna Garrison, Elyssa Gonzalez, Scotti Toner and Jordan Kalman.
“We didn’t really gel until the playoffs,” Farrell said, but added, “Everyone contributed well during practice and helped push our team to be the best.”
The Hawks also enjoyed the assistance of members of the Newsome High School Lady Wolves soccer team, who have also enjoyed a great season and are looking ahead to the next season in hopes of claiming a trophy.
For more information about the Hawks season, please visit ran dall.mysdhc.org.
