Preps: Heaberlin's absence doesn't faze Berkeley girls

TAMPA – For some teams , losing a U.S. Under-17 International at what may be the most critical position on the field would be a devastating blow.

But Berkeley Prep’s girls soccer team is undaunted by the absence of Bryane Heaberlin, who is in Miami to train with the national team, because in back-up Morgan Orobello they feel they have a goalkeeper who is more than up to the task of helping them get to the state final four.

“Morgan was with us last year, and played five games for us,” Buccaneers coach Ken Roberts said. “And four of them were ranked teams. This year, she played three matches, and it was St. Pete Catholic, a 1-0 win, and Tampa Prep the first time around, a 1-0 win, so Morgan has the ability to keep us in a game just as much as Bryane does.”

The Buccaneers open the Class 3A-Region 3 tournament tonight against Frostproof at 7 p.m., and while Orobello said she was a little nervous after Wednesday’s practice, she believes she can get the job done for the side.

“I feel like (my teammates) think I can do it,” Orobello said. “I feel like I know I can do it.”

Of course, having players like sweeper N.D. Ubezonu, and defenders Taylor Richardson, Anne Kelly and Brooke Banning in front of her won’t hurt, Roberts adding that the side wouldn’t change anything as far as their approach to the game.

“We still expect to play the ball back to (Orobello’s) feet, she’s strong with her feet,” Roberts said. “We’ll keep everything status quo. We’re more worried in going into the playoff games about us, about how we play and playing our style than we are about what our opponents are going to do. If anybody thinks they’re going to get an opportunity on her, they’ve got to get by the whole team before they get to her.

“It’s a team game. It’s a team game on defense just like it’s a team game on offense. One kid doesn’t do it all, and one kid can’t do it all once you get to this point in the season.”

Berkeley Prep's Heaberlin named to U.S. Under-17 camp

Berkeley Prep’s Bryane Heaberlin has been named to the U.S. Women’s Under-17 team for their camp in Sunrise later this month as the side prepares for qualification to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup later this year in Trinidad and Tobago.

The training camp opens on Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 6, meaning should Berkeley advance to the region playoffs after the Class 3A-District 10 tournament next week, they would potentially miss their standout goalkeeper for the entire region tournament.

Heaberlin said she was glad that her teammates were as understanding as they were, but was disappointed she would miss out on the region playoffs.

“It was very disappointing,” Heaberlin said. “It’s a really hard situation to be in.”

The Under-17’s will be playing the German Under-17 team three times as it prepares for the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, which begins on March 9 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Heaberlin said she was looking forward to the camp, and was focused on continuing to play well to make the qualifying squad.

“I definitely feel as though if I keep working hard and playing consistently well that I will solidify my spot at No.1 and hopefully make the qualifying team,” Heaberlin said.

In other national team news, Plant City’s Omar Castro has been named to a 36-player U.S. Boys Under-14 national team squad that will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico on Sunday for an eight-day training camp.

Once in Mexico, the squad will split into two groups that will train and play against local opposition. Castro, who plays for the Plant City Area Soccer Club, previously played for the Region III Olympic Development Program at the Disney Junior Soccer Showcase, putting in a series of impressive performances.

Preps: Heaberlin headed to Argentina

Berkeley Prep standout goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin has been called up for a U.S. Women’s under-17 team training camp to be held in Argentina in early December.

Heaberlin will likely miss a pair of games for the Buccaneers according to Coach Ken Roberts, a district game against St. Petersburg Catholic on Dec. 4 and a game against Melbourne Central Catholic on Dec.11, but should return before the Buccaneers compete in the Sarasota High Holiday Tournament which begins on Dec. 18.