ORANGE PARK - Most soccer followers surely would not think that St. Johns Country Day School girl's soccer coach Mike Pickett would not retool his program after a state title loss last year.

He has.

With a double-win weekend on the road against two state powers; 7A-Doral Academy (region finalist last year) and 5A-American Heritage-Plantation (18-2-2, 5A champions), plus a 2-0 win over a previously unbeaten Atlantic Coast High, Pickett and his Lady Spartans seemed to have found the secret sauce of yesteryear with the strong weekend.
Now at 5-1-3, St. Johns has been led by sophomore Sydney Schmidt's six goals; two against American Heritage with two assists from Calli Berrang, thus far and three from Mia Johnson to flex some muscle. Pickett got goals from Gabby DeSuza, Johnson, and Reygan Ropero in their win over Doral Academy with Schmidt getting two assists.
The rest for the weary is not forthcoming any time soon as St. Johns travels to Bartram Trail (7-2-1, defending 7A champion on Wed., Dec. 13) and a road trip into the Panhandle with games against unbeaten 4A-South Walton (6-0, region semis last year) and 6A-Niceville (6-1-2).
After that, 4A champion Bishop Moore comes back to town to finish the first half of the season.
In an inter-county rivalry that should have some spunk, Clay (5-1) with 13 goals from sophomore Brooke Bunton plus nine from last year's super scorer Kirra Dodson will host Fleming Island (2-4-1)on Tues., Dec. 12. Senior Erick Martinez is sneaking into the scoring space with five goals thus far.
Keystone Heights, with another super scorer, sophomore Keirsten Shaw already at 17 goals on just 26 shots on goal after a 71-goal slate last year, has the Lady Indians at 5-2-1 after a season-opening loss to Clay.
Orange Park (6-1) opened hot with four wins but lost to Oakleaf 6-1 on November 28.
Ridgeview is 2-4 with games against Middleburg and Clay to end their first half of the season.
Oakleaf is 4-4-1 with a recent 2-1 loss to a surprising Middleburg (4-3) squad led by former Fleming Island coach Joy Rosano. Middleburg has Ridgeview, Nease and St. Augustine to finish the break.
Fleming Island ends on the road with trips to Fletcher, Creekside (5-0-1) and Stanton (5-3-1) for first-year coach Taylor Berry.