Spring Preview: Virginia Boys Beach District

<strong>5A First Colonial Patriots</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Defending Virginia Class 5 State Champions after going 14-0-1, including 10 clean sheets. Coach Juice Pantophlet will look to put out a competitive team and manage high expectations after FC's first state championship in 2021. They have a solid mix of experience with returning starters Caleb Jones, Noah Kephart, Garret Hodges, and Luke Young and will combine that with a youth movement that FC is known for. The players will look different this year with the departures of Owen Ruddy (Old Dominion), Jackson Delaney (Hampden-Sydney), Michael Nopper, and Zach Wagner, but the goal for FC is always to reach the state tournament. FC is not shying away from top non-district competition with contests scheduled with Jamestown, Hickory, and Grassfield. The must-see regular-season game of the year is March 18 when defending state champions First Colonial (Class 5) and Smithfield (Class 4) square off at Green Run High School. <strong>5A Cox Falcons</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Posted an impressive 11-2-0 record with their only losses coming to state champion First Colonial, including a loss in the region final in penalties. The Falcons will look to replace Carsten Bay (Virginia Tech) and Sam Martin but have the talent to do it. Coach Eric Blackmore has a wealth of talent, leadership, and experience all over the pitch. Senior midfielder Mikey Farmer (Hampden-Sydney) will control the midfield, senior defenders Aaron Deans (Old Dominion) and Robbie Morgan will be the anchors in the back in front of senior goalkeeper Nolan Isenhour. Senior forward CJ Vakos (Shenandoah) will lead the attack along with sophomore Joshua Haggerty, who Coach Blackmore says "is emerging as dangerous as any player in the state." Coach Blackmore, "For us, it’s simple, create the chemistry to match our talent to win championships." <strong>5A Princess Anne Cavaliers</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Were robbed of a region tournament berth after going 7-2-1. Tied state champion First Colonial 0-0 for FC's only blemish. Coach Sean Stowe brings back a solid core with senior defenders Josh Cruz and Rocco Brola along with midfielders Lucas White and Wyatt Wetzler. Senior keeper Matthew Fox will be in goal after posting six clean sheets last year. Coach Stowe isn't backing away from competition outside of the Beach and has scheduled matches vs Class 5 Hickory, Kecoughtan, Nansemond River, Maury, and Granby. He wants his team to be fully prepared if they qualify for postseason play. <strong>5A Tallwood Lions</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 0-10-0 and did not qualify for postseason play. Coach Brad Watahovich looks for the team to improve after a winless 2021. "We have a big group of young returners that have improved from last season and are hungry to compete in the Beach District," he said. "We have a lot of speed at all positions this year and the guys like to play fast-paced possession all over the pitch. Five juniors who cut their teeth in a tough Beach District as starting sophomores should have more success this season. Goalkeeper/midfielder C.J. Mainor, midfielder/forward James-ley Arisnor, defender/midfielder Bruce Marshall, midfielder Jaiden Cass, defender J.J. Parr all return with a valuable year of experience. Newcomer freshman midfielder/forward Max Adolphe looks to be a key contributor in the attack." <strong>5A Kempsville Chiefs</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Finished a disappointing 3-6-1 and failed to make it to the postseason for the second straight season. Kempsville will return 10 starters highlighted by senior midfielder Isaiah Williams who will control the game from his center mid position. Senior forward DeShaun Thomas will be a handful for opposing back lines and Coach Leroi Wilson expects him to be the leading goal scorer. The Chiefs play of good mix of non-district games, Great Bridge, Indian River, Churchland, Norview, Hickory, Maury all await. "We return some seasoned players that should lead the team," Wilson said. "If we play as a team, we should be able to compete at a high level. We could surprise some teams." <strong>6A East: Kellam Knights</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> The season ended with a 3-1 region final loss to Grassfield. East Kellam's 9-3 record included eight shutouts. Longtime Kellam coach Craig Powers will look to get his squad over the hump this season after four straight defeats in the region semifinals. Elliot Wickham and Cooper Kieran are the two biggest losses from last season. His best returning players all play in the midfield: Hamilton Howes, Josh Nevis, and Brady Wise will look to control the game and deliver quality balls in the final third. "Finding a reliable goal scorer will be key, we do not have a lot of room for error this year without one," Powers said. "Our midfield will be our strength." <strong>6A East: Landstown Eagles</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> A disappointing 5-5-1 season in which they lost in the region quarterfinals. Four losses were by a single goal. Coach Ryan Gillespie and the Eagles made it to the state tournament in their last full season in 2019. A non-district schedule of Western Branch, Maury, Norview, Oscar Smith, and Indian River gives them the opportunity to earn a high seed in the Region Tournament. <strong>6A East: Ocean Lakes Dolphins</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Were better than their 5-6-0 record shows. Lost three matches (Kellam/PA/Cox) by a 1-0 tally. First-year coach Dave Wiggins takes the reigns at Ocean Lakes and looks to have their first winning season since 2018. Their 2021 team was young and had no seniors who started, so the entire starting 11 comes back with a lot of experience. Seniors goalkeeper/forward Jack DesRoche, forward/midfielder Wyatt Luttrell, and midfielder Trey Pope will provide the leadership. Juniors make up the majority of the midfield, defender/midfielder Vincent Baker, midfielder Kaden Sawyer, midfielder Sam Wiggins, and forward Derek Sapone all played major roles as sophomores in 2021. The back line is mostly sophomores who were all tested last season as freshmen and should come back stronger and more confident this year. Defenders Pat Baker, Canon Robins, and Dylan Tamayo will man the back line. The final starter will be sophomore midfielder Gabe Zarate. "Last season Ocean Lakes finished in the middle of the pack, defeating all teams that finished beneath us on the table, but beating none of those who finished above us, Wiggins said. "With a squad full of juniors and sophomores, we are looking to increase goal-scoring opportunities and win games against top-tier opponents this season. We will quickly have our mettle tested with matches vs Kellam and Cox in Week 1." The Dolphins also have games vs 6A opponents Grassfield and Western Branch. <strong>5A Bayside Marlins</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Finished 3-5-2, their best record in four years despite the shortened season. <strong>5A Salem Sun Devils</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 2-8-0 <strong>5A Green Run Stallions</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Finished 1-9-0.