Tampa Bay High School Top 10 Girls Soccer Preseason Rankings

By: Ross Van De Griek

Former Palm Harbor University forward Mary Raymond dribbling through Wiregrass Ranch's Ysa Novak (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times) (1/31/2019)

We are just about a week away from the start of the high school girls soccer regular season kicking off. We had a Tampa Bay area team as a reigning champion since Steinbrenner won the 2011 FHSAA Girls Soccer Class 4A Final, over Merritt Island. Keep in mind, these are just the preseason rankings, as the first official rankings will be revealed on Tuesday, November 12.

1. Palm Harbor University

Head Coach: Jim Felce

Last Season: 18-1-1

Postseason Result: Won the 2019 FHSAA Girls Soccer Class 5A Final, with a 1-0 win over Cypress Bay

Notable Returners: Camryn Boyette (Junior), Olivia Schick (Junior), Isabella Mihaj (Senior)

Season Opener: 11/11 vs River Ridge

2. Mitchell

Head Coach: David Phillips

Last Season: 18-1-0

Postseason Result: Lost to Montverde Academy in the FHSAA Regional Finals

Notable Returners: Eva Pitkoff (Senior), Morgan Weldon (Senior), Olivia Phillips (Senior)

Season Opener: 11/11 @ Tarpon Springs

3. Largo

Head Coach: Dan Flynn

Last Season: 17-5-3

Postseason Result: Lost to American Heritage (Plantation) in the FHSAA State Semifinals

Notable Returners: Monique Gray (Junior), Asti Luff (Junior), Hannah Rigali (Junior)

Season Opener: 11/12 vs Plant

4. Newsome

Head Coach: Denis Vukorep

Last Season: 17-2-0

Postseason Result: Lost to Winter Park in the FHSAA Regional Quarterfinals

Notable Returners: Sydni Dennis (Junior), Sierra Hudson (Junior), Kaitlyn Ciolek (Junior)

Season Opener: 11/12 vs Sickles

5. Plant

Head Coach: Alex Venegas

Last Season: 12-3-1

Postseason Result: Did Not Qualify

Notable Returners: Kallyn McKinney (Sophomore), Claire Rain (Junior, Ohio State verbal commit), Quinn Ryan (Junior), Lexi Evangelista (Junior)

Season Opener: 11/12 at Largo

6. St. Petersburg

Head Coach: Rui Farias

Last Season: 16-4-1

Postseason Result: Lost to Archbishop McCarthy in the FHSAA State Semifinals

Notable Returners: Alexa Goldberg (Senior), Caroline DeWitt (Senior)

Season Opener: 11/11 @ Northeast

7. Wiregrass Ranch

Head Coach: Edwin Costa

Last Season: 19-5-0

Postseason Result: Lost to Palm Harbor University in the FHSAA Regional Semifinals

Notable Returners: Avery Damjanovic (Senior), Kylee Ehmann (Senior), Merrick Rees (Junior), McKenzie Noland (Junior)

Season Opener: 11/11 @ Zephyrhills

8. Wesley Chapel

Head Coach: Mark Leonard

Last Season: 18-4-2

Postseason Result: Lost to River Ridge in the FHSAA Regional Semifinals

Notable Returners: Gaby Cardenas (Senior), Morgan Herndon (Senior), Maddy Golka (Sophomore), Sydney Bauer (Junior)

Season Opener: 11/11 vs Pasco

9. Calvary Christian

Head Coach: Victoria Hale

Last Season: 12-4-2

Postseason Result: Lost to Indian Rocks Christian in the FHSAA Regional Semifinals

Notable Returners: Rachael Mahan (Sophomore), Nina Pappas (Senior), Dani Smith (Senior)

Season Opener: 11/11 vs Clearwater Central Catholic

10. Steinbrenner

Head Coach: Shannon Aitken

Last Season: 11-7-0

Postseason Result: Did Not Qualify

Notable Returners: Natalie Bello (Junior), Jaelyn Evans (Senior), Lauren Prentice (Senior)

Season Opener: 11/12 vs East Lake (AHN Invitational)

On The Bubble: Academy of the Holy Names, Bloomingdale, Clearwater Central Catholic, East Lake, Nature Coast Tech, River Ridge, Sickles, Sunlake