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Plant City Lancers face tough schedule

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

PLANT CITY - The Under-11 Plant City Lancers Girls soccer team will have a tougher schedule than ever when their season starts this weekend.

And they couldn't be happier.

For the first time in Lancers program history, a team will be playing in the highest level of competition in club soccer, Division I. The Lancers U-11 Girls Black squad attained the status by its performance in an Oct. 3 seeding tournament in Lakewood Ranch.

Playing at the Braden River soccer complex, the Lancers defeated two teams from the West Pasco league, first topping Elite 6-3 then beating the Thunder 3-1.

The tournament success was not too surprising for the Lancers.

"We played in seven tournaments around the state last year," said Eric Langston, one of the U-11 coaches. "We made the finals in five of them, and won three. This is the third year these girls have been together."

With the Division I designation comes a tougher schedule of opponents. For example the Lancers were set last weekend to compete in the premier division of a tourney in Largo.

The Lancers' regular season starts Saturday.Home games are played at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

In all there are 18 teams in the Lancers program, which participates in the United Soccer Association during its season.

For the Under-11 Girls league, only the top eight teams qualify for Division I status. There are 16 teams in Division 2.

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