By DAN HOEHNE
daniel.hoehne@newssun.com
AVON PARK - A sure sign of progression is getting under another team's skin.
In the ongoing up-tick that the season has been for Avon Park Lady Devils soccer, Tuesday's Senior Night celebration was evidence of that progression in a 4-0 loss to visiting Ridge.
The Lady Bolts came into the contest with a strong 11-7-6 overall record, and might have been forgiven if they looked at the Devils 1-12-1 mark and didn't expect much resistance.
But if that were the case, then they weren't paying much attention to the turnaround the program is in the midst of under first-year head coach Chris Sboto.
From the start, Ridge was the stronger and more precise team, controlling the early action on the Avon Park side of the field.
But they sure didn't outhustle the Lady Devils who made nothing easy for them.
And sure, sophomore keeper Rosa Cuellar made a number of saves, but she wasn't exactly diving all over and fending off rocket shots from the Bolts.
The Devil defense clamored, clawed and contested Ridge all over the place, and those shots on goal were much more in quantity than in quality.
And though most of the first half was spent on the Devils end, they were able to clear the ball out and send it deep toward Georgi Biberstein and Josianna Fils.
And so it went for the first 40 minutes as Avon Park stayed strong and saw a 0-0 tie at the half.
"Looking at us from the beginning of the season, we have improved a lot," senior Tiffany Card said. "Even though we didn't win this one, we played our hearts out and it really showed because the (Ridge) coach was mad and telling his girls that we shouldn't be playing at their level."
At halftime, the Devils paid homage for the last home game for a host of outgoing seniors, including Card, Biberstein, Fils, Esther Arnold, Darlene Satine, Alexis Queen and Noemi Secundino, who have played key roles in getting the programs turnaround going.
Sure, the Bolts regrouped and got on the board in the early going of the second half, and later added a flurry of scores, showing the Devils that while the progress is evident, there is still a ways to go.
But Card sees the path they are on and is encouraged.
"There are a lot of freshmen who have amazing potential," she said. "And there are upper classmen who will hold it down when this group of seniors leave."
Avon Park finishes up the regular season with a Saturday matinee visiting Sebring at 1 p.m. and then face off with DeSoto Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the District 10-2A Tournament at Lake Placid.
Friday, January 11, 2013 - www.newssun.com/FRI-1-11-13-APGSoccer