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Get Scouted Scouting Careers5’6″ Forward is a Goal-making Machine
Trinity Catholic High (Fla) sophomore and NSR prospect, Tabitha Tindell, is the Ocala Star-Banner Female Soccer Player of the Year. The 15-year-old was a key component for the Celtics, who won their sixth straight district title. The talented forward played alongside two-time soccer player of the year Katy Phillips as a freshman and watched teammate Ashley Coley score more goals than any Celtic over her career. She understood that district titles were a birthright at Trinity and had heard all about the trip to the final four back in 2009.
The latest Celtic star appreciated the history, and embraced the expectations. But the goals — for herself and her team — were more of the big picture variety for a program that craves a permanent place at the table with the state’s soccer elite.
“We just wanted to come out and show everybody that we can be as good as we think we are,” Tindell explained. “And I wanted to show everybody that I could be a good player at a young age. I think we accomplished those (goals), even though we didn’t get as far as we would have liked to.”
The Star-Banner Player of the Year exploded for 42 goals and 21 assists during her sophomore season, leading the Celtics to their sixth straight district crown and a fourth consecutive regional final. Blendhel Elias has seen his share of talented ball-strikers over his career, but the Celtics coach believes he might have his best to date in Tindell.
“She’s one of a kind,” Elias said. “She can go full speed with the ball and she has the (ball) skills to go with it. She has everything. She’s very competitive and she can play anywhere in the field, and that’s what colleges are looking at now. “She can turn and shoot on anybody, but she’s not a selfish player. She makes sure she gets everyone involved.”
As the season wore on, defenses adapted. By the time the postseason rolled around, opponents deployed two and three defenders to harass Tindell in an attempt to neutralize the Celtic’s top scorer. In the 4-2 loss to state power Lake Highland Prep, the Highlanders had two players shadow Tindell all night regardless of where she was on the field. And when the Celtic striker ventured into scoring range, an additional two or three players pounced, forcing her to pass it off.
“It definitely gets frustrating,” Tindell said of the extra attention from defenders. “You try and get the ball and people just flock to you. But you’ve just got to play it as it comes, and if three people are marking you, it leaves somebody else open. That’s how I’ve got to look at it.”
“It’s Tabby’s work ethic that puts her above the rest,” Long said. “She’s always one of my top performers in strength and conditioning drills. She’s a very unique player. I definitely see us as state contenders (next season), especially with such a young team.”
Tindell says she draws her strength from her teammates who immediately took her under her wing when she came into the program as a 14-year-old freshman. Beginning this offseason, she’s hoping to return the favor by leading the Celtics to their ultimate goal — hanging up their own state championship banner at Trinity Catholic.
“We’re just going to keep pushing ourselves,” Tindell said. “Obviously we want to get past where we’ve been the last two years. We’ll just keep working for it and hope for the best.”
Editor’s Note: Exerpts reprinted from the Ocala Star-Banner. By Byron Saucer, Star-Banner staff writer. Photos courtesy of the Star-Banner.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.