Defending Class 6A state champion Sunlake knows it is the team to beat this season. Head coach Danielle Fotopoulos, who was inducted into the FHSAA Hall of Fame as a player in 2014, said the Seahawks have no intention of backing down from their goal. Sunlake, based in Land O’ Lakes in Pasco County, is preparing for another run at a state title after ending years of near-misses last year.
Last season, Sunlake captured its first state championship in its fifth trip to the state tournament. The Seahawks beat Jacksonville Mandarin 3-2 on February 25 at Spec Martin Municipal Stadium in DeLand. Hinz scored the winning goal, a diving header in the 70th minute. The team did not start the season strong. Sunlake opened 1-1-3, including a 1-1 tie with Pasco, which won only eight games. After back-to-back losses in a December tournament, the Seahawks turned things around and won 15 straight games, outscoring opponents 53-14.
Sunlake graduated 13 seniors, but Fotopoulos said the team is not losing momentum. She said several young players are stepping up to fill key roles. Fotopoulos said her focus is on having the team peak at the right time of the season, which she called the hardest part of winning a championship. She said she manages the players while they largely take ownership of their own performance.
Leading the team this season are new captains Aidan Soto and Elliot Hinz, both returning seniors. Soto will anchor the defense, while Hinz, who scored last year’s title-winning goal, will provide offensive leadership. Newcomers include junior Theirry Oliveira and freshman Eddie Hinz, Elliot’s younger brother. They will help replace a senior class that included goalkeeper Jack Hanzlik and captains Jairo Todd, Isaac Soto, Ricky Kase and Peter Arroyo. Fotopoulos said several newcomers who did not play for the team last year will see significant playing time this season.
Sunlake’s season will test whether the program can repeat as state champion. Fotopoulos acknowledged that winning a title requires luck, timing and good health. She said the Seahawks learned last season how long and unpredictable a state tournament run can be. For more information, read the original report from Tampa Bay Beacons.
Originally reported by Tampa Bay Beacons – Pasco
