KFDM COOP Posted February 14, 2008 Report Posted February 14, 2008 New twists fill Mid-County soccer rivalry By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND -- Call these new twists to a time-honored Mid-County soccer rivalry between Nederland and Port Neches-Groves. First, the starting times changed on Thursday due to the threat of inclimate weather during the later stages of Friday. The varsity girls game has moved from 5:30 to 3:30 p.m. The varsity boys game has changed from 7:30 to 5:30 p.m. If weather permits, the junior varsity boys game figures to finish off the night at 7:30 p.m. All three games will be played on the Spurlock Road venue of Prather Field next to the Nederland High School campus. "It will be different to be the visiting team on our home practice field," NHS boys coach Rob Bledsoe said. "But that's the way were going to do it this time." As originally scheduled -- clear back in football season -- this will be a varsity boys game featuring Nederland at PN-G, because the Prather Field venue has served as PN-G's home soccer field all season. Deadlocked in a tie for second with Vidor, the Nederland boys (8-3-1 and 6-1-1) will complete the first half of their 20-4A schedule in their road black jerseys seeking their fifth straight win. The work of freshmen Brent Salenga, Bay Calloway and Jordan Wagner truly have been a big boost to coach Rob Bledsoe's already-young team. Coach Don Sandell's Indians (6-3-3 and 4-2-2) definitely need a win to improve their chances of getting back into the 20-4A playoff picture. PN-G may own the advantage if the game may go to a shootout because the Tribe may have be fresh from plenty of recent shootout experience. Two of the last three Indians' games -- Little Cypress-Mauriceville and Beaumont Central -- have gone to shootouts. The Indians have lingered throughout most of the season without their senior midfield leader Stephen Zimmerman who has been slowed by a fibula fracture. Zimmerman's status for today's game remained in question. While both Mid-County boys and girls teams are chasing leader Lumberton in the standings, both Mid-County girls teams are entering this afternoon with more secure playoff postures midway into their district races. Nederland (9-3-1 and 6-1) and PN-G (8-4 and 6-1) have been operating some or most of the time without the watchful eyes of their respective head coaches. PN-G has recorded six straight shutouts under acting head coach and assistant Crystal Werkheiser while head coach Aimee Bates has been on maternity leave. Nederland has operated some without head coach Julie Johnson due to her additional commitment as head swimming coach. Kelli Spell has been in charge of the Lady Bulldogs in Julie's absence. Johnson and Bates plan to be back on the job today, but the 44th annual Bulldog Relays force the game to go to Prather rather than Nederland's normal home field, Bulldog Stadium. "We will wear black but we will be the home team, so go figure," Johnson said. Yep, that's a strange one. The Lady Bulldogs have been led by a group of five players that should be back next season. Those are juniors Taylor Carlson and Megan Melancon plus sophomores Jacie Bell, Lauren Washburn and Lindsey Bombek.
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