Carolina News: Emerging N.C. girls prospects, S.C. boys show well
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Last week, PrepSoccer.com unveiled its initial list of North Carolina girls players to watch for the spring. Today, we provide another group of players from this talent-heavy state. M Kelly Gordon Kelly Gordon M T.C. Roberson | 2024 SC ,…
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Continue ReadingLast week, PrepSoccer.com unveiled its initial list of North Carolina girls players to watch for the spring. Today, we provide another group of players from this talent-heavy state.
M Kelly Gordon Kelly Gordon M T.C. Roberson | 2024 SC , T.C. Roberson, So. — Instant impact, scoring a team-high three goals early in the season.
GK Grace Laws Grace Laws GK AC Reynolds | 2022 NC , AC Reynolds, Sr. — The Citadel commit is sporting a 0.44 goals against average so far this season.
M Elizabeth Perri Elizabeth Perri M State NC , Pine Lake Prep, So. — 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.
F Kendall Powell Kendall Powell D NC , Millbrook, Sr. — 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.
F Elon Rutty Elon Rutty F Hough (NC) | 2023 NC , Hough, Jr. — Hough is off to a 6-0-1 start with a junior pacing the offense. Rutty-Andre has a team-high six goals.
M Halle Skibo Halle Skibo D A.C. Reynolds | 2022 NC , AC Reynolds, Sr. — The University of Iowa signee has scored eight goals in AC Reynolds’ 4-1 start this season.
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 Brooklyn Holt Brooklyn Holt M Heritage | 2022 NC , the youngest daughter of former NFL superstar Torry Holt, and Western Carolina signee Katelin Rucker Katelin Rucker M Heritage | 2022 NC in the midfield, South Florida signee Kendall Kiefer Kendall Kiefer D NC as a center back. Junior midfielders Emily Ford Emily Ford M Heritage (NC) | 2023 NC and Allison Travis Allison Travis M Heritage (NC) | 2023 NC 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
POWER RESURGENCE?
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 Sydney Smith, with a team-best six goals, and senior keeper Spencer Barnwell, 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.
HEADING TO THE HILLS
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 Beckham Voelker Beckham Voelker D Wando | 2022 SC , who is committed to USC-Lancaster, and senior center mid Lucas Goldberg Lucas Goldberg M Wando | 2022 SC , who recently committed to Anderson University. Josue Rodriguez Josue Rodriguez F Wren | 2023 SC , 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.