Mitchell’s Wallace commits to Florida Gulf Coast

Posted Mar 30, 2010 by Mike Camunas

Updated Mar 30, 2010 at 03:16 PM

Robbie Wallace, a standout senior defender that was part of Mitchell boys soccer’s season that ended in a Class 4A state soccer title and named to the first team of The Tampa Tribune’s All-Pasco County soccer team, has committed to Florida Gulf Coast University, Mustangs coach Oscar Ubillus told The Tribune.

Wallace, who added an assist and seven shots in the 2009-10 season, can also play goalkeeper, and was the starter as a junior, only to move to sweeper/stopper, allowing Ubillus to put fellow teammate, Josh Berres, in goal. Berres went on to have a spectacular season that included 103 saves and 10 shutouts, including the 1-0 win against Jacksonville Stanton in the 4A state championship game.

Ubillus made the move before the season started, knowing that having Wallace on the field and Berres in goal gave him the best line up on a roster that included 17 seniors. The move paid off, as Wallace anchored a defense that allowed just 20 goals, including four when Wallace was in net. Wallace, who also made 31 saves and had three shutouts, came up big in the 4A regional final game against Celebration on Feb. 12, clearing away a ball that had slipped by Berres in the final minutes of that 1-0 win.

“Robbie is really the complete team player,” Ubillus said. “When the defense didn’t give up a goal the last two games to (the state) final, it seemed like the right decision.”

Ubillus said Wallace was more than happy to move back to the field and understood having Berres in the net was best for the team.

“It was awesome having him on the field and he wanted to play the field more,” Ubillus said. “He never complained about the decision because he knew it was best for the team to have Berres in the net and have the best 11 players on the field. It worked well in the long run.”

Clearly it did, as the result was the first state title for a Pasco County boys soccer team.

Ubillus added that no other player from Mitchell’s state title team has interest from colleges at this time.