Carolina News: Emerging N.C. girls prospects, S.C. boys show well

Last week, PrepSoccer.com unveiled its <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/03/spring-preview-top-north-carolina-girls-prospects-for-22-season/">initial list of North Carolina girls players to watch</a></span> for the spring. Today, we provide another group of players from this talent-heavy state. <span class="s1"><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="33427" first="Kelly" last="Gordon"], T.C. Roberson, So.</strong> -- Instant impact, scoring a team-high three goals early in the season. </span> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>GK [player_tooltip player_id="30528" first="Grace" last="Laws"], AC Reynolds, Sr.</strong> -- The Citadel commit is sporting a 0.44 goals against average so far this season.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="24741" first="Elizabeth" last="Perri"], Pine Lake Prep, So.</strong> -- Perri is a USNYT regional camp invitee who plays on a high school team that will be well beneath the radar, outmatched by the larger, stronger Charlotte-area public schools. Perri, a defender for ECNL's Charlotte Independence, is showing some offensive skill with a goal and two assists in three high school matches. </span></p> <span class="s1"><strong>F [player_tooltip player_id="24870" first="Kendall" last="Powell"], Millbrook, Sr.</strong> -- Millbrook is off to an 8-0 start and plenty of that can be attributed to this UNC Asheville signee. Powell, who plays club for NCFC, has five goals, including the score in a 1-0 Millbrook victory over a loaded and previously undefeated Heritage team.</span> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>F [player_tooltip player_id="41248" first="Elon" last="Rutty-Andre"], Hough, Jr.</strong> -- Hough is off to a 6-0-1 start with a junior pacing the offense. Rutty-Andre has a team-high six goals. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="33169" first="Halle" last="Skibo"], AC Reynolds, Sr.</strong> -- The University of Iowa signee has scored eight goals in AC Reynolds' 4-1 start this season.</span></p> <p class="p1">On paper, one of the most talented teams in North Carolina this spring is Heritage in Wake Forest, N.C. Given the school's proximity to one of the dominant ACC soccer programs, it should be little surprise that the local high school also is strong in the sport. All four of Heritage's starting midfielders are heading to NCAA Division I programs, along with its center back. Those players to keep an eye on are: NC State signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33166" first="Brooklyn" last="Holt"]</strong>, the youngest daughter of former NFL superstar Torry Holt, and Western Carolina signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24842" first="Katelin" last="Rucker"]</strong> in the midfield, South Florida signee <span class="s1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24869" first="Kendall" last="Kiefer"]</strong> as a center back. Junior midfielders <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41241" first="Emily" last="Ford"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24644" first="Allison" last="Travis"]</strong> are committed to UNC Charlotte. Heritage is off to a 4-1-1 start with its lone setback to undefeated Millbrook. Ford, Rucker, and Travis were all-region selections last year </span></p> <strong>POWER RESURGENCE?</strong> There was once a day when girls soccer in North Carolina was a "Greensboro-Raleigh" thing. In fact, between the inception of girls soccer state tournament in North Carolina in 1986 and 2009, every large-school state champion except one hailed from Greensboro or Raleigh. Recently, the power dynamic has shifted to Charlotte -- and very well could stay there for a while. However, one of the original girls state powers -- Grimsley -- is making a resurgence. The Whirlies are off to a 7-0-1 start, which matches or betters the full season win total of every Grimsley team since 2017. While it remains to be seen if Grimsley's hot start, which included a win over previously undefeated Northwest Guilford last week, will result in any serious state tournament challenge, Grimsley deserves a shout-out for the undefeated run. Senior forward <strong>Sydney Smith</strong>, with a team-best six goals, and senior keeper <strong>Spencer Barnwell</strong>, with four shutouts and only four goals allowed, are grabbing the early headlines. Under legendary coach Herk DeGraw, Grimsley was a feared state power for more than 20 years. The program claimed six state titles between 1990 and 2004 and finished as a state runner-up six other times during DeGraw's coaching tenure. Grimsley or Raleigh Broughton won the state's large-school state title every year except one between 1992 and 2006. During DeGraw's final seasons and well after his retirement, the program slid back into the pack, not only statewide, but also in the Greensboro area. The 2022 start, a bit surprising considering the squad had a losing record during last year's abbreviated season, could signal a new chapter for this once-stellar program. <strong>HEADING TO THE HILLS</strong> Switching to South Carolina, two of the state's boys programs put on solid showings at the Smoky Mountain Cup last weekend in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Wando (S.C.) went 2-1 and finished tied for the top spot in the event's elite division. Wando lost to Fayetteville (Ark.) but wins over Station Camp (Tenn.), which beat Fayetteville, and Cornerstone Christian (Texas) salvaged a tie in the standings. Wren (S.C.) went 2-0-1 and finished second in the Mount Buckley/Mount Love bracket. Wando was led by senior defender <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41243" first="Beckham" last="Voelker"]</strong>, who is committed to USC-Lancaster, and senior center mid <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41242" first="Lucas" last="Goldberg"]</strong>, who recently committed to Anderson University. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41244" first="Josue" last="Rodriguez"]</strong>, a junior, continues to impress as he scored six goals in Wren's three matches. He scored at least one goal in each contest at the showcase event.