ORANGE PARK - St. Johns Country Day School girls soccer coach Mike Pickett knows the value of a tough schedule to prepare for the spring championship run and December was the "test" for his attempt to return to state and national prominence.

"We've played a 5-1-1 schedule against five nationally ranked teams since early December," said Pickett, after opening the trial with a 4-0 win over previously unbeaten 7A-Atlantic Coast (8-1-2, ranked 5th in 7A) on December 8 then culminating his gauntlet with a 3-1 win over 4A state champion Bishop Moore on Friday. "We literally left here and drove six hours to play South Walton because the kids here had exams, showed up, warmed up for 20 minutes then played. Then finished, drove an hour to Niceville to find our hotel, then played at 10 a.m. the next day. We had a 1-0 lead on them when they got a penalty kick that I would question."

------------------- in a box--------
The Spartan Gauntlet
Dec. 5:  2-0 win vs. Atlantic Coast (First loss 8-1-2, No. 5 in 7A)
Dec. 8: 3-1 win vs. Doral Academy
Dec. 9: 2-1 win over American Heritage (5A champions, No. 2 in 4A, 12th in FL, 24th in USA)
Dec. 13 1-0 loss to Bartram Trail (7A champions, No. 3 in 7A, 7th in FL, 15th in USA)
Dec. 15: 4-2 win over South Walton (4A region finals, No. 1 in 4A, 6th in FL, 14th in USA)
Dec. 16: 1-1 tie with Niceville (No. 4 in 6A, 15th in FL)
Dec. 20: 3-1 win over Bishop Moore (4A champions, No. 3 4A)
---------------------------

St. Johns opened the season with a 2-2 tie with Ponte Vedra (ranked 4th in the USA) then 0-0 ties with Gulf Breeze and Tocoi Creek, a 1-0 win over P.K. Yonge and a 3-1 loss to Tallahassee Chiles.
Pickett noted that offensively, with sophomore Sydney Schmidt leading the Spartans scoring with just nine goals, the Spartans have shifted their attack to concentrate on defense this season with a minimum of goals being scored as opposed to previous seasons.
"We are playing a 3-5-2 set which is the riskiest to play as it leaves just three defenders in front of the goal and more players going forward for offense," said Pickett. "We had 111 goals last year (38 at Christmas break) and we have just 24 so far this year. We had no choice but to go to 3-5-2 to score goals. We don't have the finishers that we've had in the past seasons."
The top goal-getter for Pickett is standout sophomore Sydney Schmidt with just nine goals.
"Sydney is by far the best all-around player in the area, no question," said Pickett, noting her selection to the USA U-16 national team. "We've played different approaches to get her free as most teams are doubling and tripling her, but she is so good and doesn't need much space to move."
Against Bishop Moore with a Puerto Rico national team member marking Schmidt, Schmidt took a left side feed, sped to toward the end line, outsprinted the defender and circled back up toward the top of the 18 box before spinning and firing a top-corner goal before landing on her backside to complete the third goal.
"She's magic," said Pickett. "If we get her one on one, she's tough to defend."
One player Pickett credits with vast improvement is sophomore Reygan Ropero who has been instrumental in getting the ball deep into enemy territory to set up Pickett's offense.
"She has come a long way from the early part of the year," said Pickett. "Our young kids are grinding it out and improving each game. This is the toughest schedule I've ever had. I thought we could go 1-7 against these teams."
Pickett noted that American Heritage was the biggest size-wise team on the slate.
"We are not big anywhere on the field and we rely on our strategy and speed, but that American Heritage team was huge," said Pickett.
Pickett, who gave the team a seven-day break though some players will play a club schedule, implored them to stay sharp with conditioning for his "season three".
"I thought I was going to have my first losing record at the start," said Pickett, 20-2-1 last year with a 2A runner-up finish snapping an 11-title reign. "After the break, I've called that upcoming part of the schedule season three because it's winning time. We are ranked fourth in the city with the toughest schedule. We get no respect because we are 2A, but we'll be there at the end."
St. Johns returns with 3A-Bolles (1-9-2), 6A-Chiles (9-1-1), 5A-Lincoln (7-1-0), 4A-Stanton (7-4-2) and 7A-Lakewood Ranch (4-1-2).

National Rankings
As of Dec. 24, Maxpreps.com

1. Northwest Rankin (Brandon) MS 13-0-0
2. Montverde Academy FL 9-0-1
3. Clinton MS 9-0-2
4. Ponte Vedra FL 9-1-1
5. Leigh (San Jose, CA) 5-0
6. Punahou (Hawaii) 13-0
7. Maidson Central MS 11-1
8. Lourdes Academy Miami 10-1
9. Mira Costa CA 8-0-2
10. Creekside FL 8-0-2
11. Lake Mary FL 10-0-2
14. South Walton FL 8-1
15. Bartram Trail FL 9-3-1
18. St. Johns Country Day School FL 7-2-4
24. American Heritage FL 6-2-0
28. Niceville FL 10-1-3
31. Chiles FL 9-1-1
39. Atlantic Coast FL 8-1-2