Virginia Boys Spring Preview: Beach District

First Colonial ended a long slump for the beach district in 2021 by winning a class 5 state championship and Cox made it two in a row in 2022. Who can step up in 2023 and make it three years in a row for the beach?   5A Cox Falcons   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/cox.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106443" width="280" height="392" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jace Arcona & David Hartwell Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: The Falcons lost in the region final to Hickory but qualified for the state tournament where they knocked off Menchville, Deep Run, and finally Riverside to capture the VHSL class 5 championship. Coach Eric Blackmore retired at the end of the season after leading Cox to its fourth state title.   Former assistant coach Santo Ripa takes over for the departed Blackmore who laid the foundation for a successful program. "I am excited to continue the building process and we are excited to continue building our legacy and hope to chase another title;" he said.  2022 graduates Mikey Farmer, CJ Vakos, Robbie Morgan, Aaron Deans, and Nolan Isenhour have all departed so there are opportunities and expanded roles to be filled. Senior midfielder Jace Arcona, senior defender David Hartwell, junior forward Dax Booth (1st team all-state), and junior midfielder Josh Haggerty (2nd team all-state) look to be the players to lead Cox to the postseason.   Key non-district matches: Grassfield, Warhill, and Kecoughtan   6A Kellam Knights   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/Kel.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106444" width="279" height="389" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hamilton Howes & Joshua Nevins Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: After a tough 4-4-0 start to the season, the Knights reeled off six straight wins to advance to the region semifinals where they fell to state finalist James River Midlothian 2-1 in overtime.   Coach Craig Powers can't remember his squad ever having so many seniors in the starting lineup as he will in 2023. Forward Brady Wise was the only senior in 2022 who saw significant minutes is the only loss. "We will also see the return of senior midfielder Josh Nevins (Virginia Wesleyan University) and junior midfielder Trystan Kidd who were both lost for the season before we even got into district play," said Powers. Senior forward Hamilton Howes (1st team all-region/College of William and Mary) will move from the midfield where he scored 17 goals up to the forward spot this season. "The midfield of Nevins, senior Ayden Cass (2nd team all-region/Lynchburg College), and Kidd will be the strength of the team," he said. Seniors Hunter Roche and Carson Stretz (Methodist University) will man the wings for the second straight year. Seniors Leo Fajardo, Sam Brown and Sam Ricciardella all return to anchor the back line in front of senior keepers William Stanley (Cortland University) and Matthew Yates (Virginia Wesleyan University). Powers expectations are to pick up where we left off with our play which ended in an overtime loss to James River Midlothian in the region semifinals and move deeper in the playoffs.   Key non-district matches: Jamestown, Grassfield, and Grafton   5A First Colonial   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/fc.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106445" width="279" height="390" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Diego Armas Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: The Patriots had a down year by their standards finishing 10-7-0 and getting knocked out in region semifinals by Hickory. FC had made the trip to states three consecutive seasons including a state championship in 2021.   Coach Juice Pantophlet has a young team in 2023 with the departures of all-region selections keeper Garrett Hodges, midfielder Adam Smithson, and striker Caleb Jones and will be looking to develop in a strong Beach district. "However, our goal is to always play for a championship," he said. He will look for leadership in the defensive end in captains senior Noah Kephart and junior [player_tooltip player_id='30980' first='Jonathan' last='Kidd']. Senior attacker Luke Young, senior forward Diego Armas (2nd team all-region), senior keeper Ian Lanz, and senior midfielder Joe Hawkins will be the keys to success. The improved performance of Junior defender Jair Farmer (2nd team all-region) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='30982' first='Ryan' last='Buckon'] will be vital this season.   Key non-district matches: Warhill, Hickory, Great Bridge, Grassfield, and Jamestown   6A Ocean Lakes   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/OL.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106490" width="279" height="390" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kaden Sawyer & Derek Sapone Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: The Dolphins missed out on post season play despite finishing 8-5-2.   Second year coach David Wiggins has a year under his belt and looks to improve upon last year. "We'd love to win a few more against quality teams, those with winning records. We had quite a few overtime losses/ties we feel should have been wins. We played well enough to win in all but one game," said Wiggins. All-region players Wyatt Luttrell and Jack DesRoches have departed but there is plenty of talent returning. In the attacking end, senior CAM Sam Wiggins returns after missing two seasons with injuries and senior forward Derek Sapone (Christopher Newport University) look to lead the way. Defensively the Dolphins will rely on senior CDM Kaden Sawyer (2nd team all-region/Hampden-Sydney College) and junior defender Canon Robins (1st team all-region) to organize the back line along with junior defender Dylan Tamayo. Senior Vincent Baker and junior Patrick Baker will man the wing backs while senior keepers Zach Meadows and Michael Arzillo are engaged in a heated competition for the starting job. Up and coming players freshman defender Jace Asercion and sophomore forward Taden Domanski will also compete for playing time.   Key non-district matches: Smithfield, Oscar Smith, and Grassfield   6A Landstown Eagles   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/ltown.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106491" width="279" height="391" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Trey Gohr Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Landstown finished the regular season ranked number one in the 757 with a record of 10-0-3 and advanced to the region final where they lost to James River Midlothian 3-1 but advanced to the class 6 state tournament. The state quarterfinals produced a memorable penalty shootout win over Osbourn before falling to class 6 champion Langley in the semifinals.   New head coach Sean Stowe (formerly of Princess Anne) takes over the reins from Ryan Gillespie but the expectations for the Eagles have not changed. "We expect to compete for the region 6A title," he said. There are some holes to fill with the departures of forward Zach Richards (Randolf-Macon College), defender Matt Sabater (SUNY Cortland), and Shiloh Toliver (Moved to CA). Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='170719' first='Ryan' last='Walsh'], who Stowe calls "the best young forward in the area" will lead the attack along with newcomer forward freshman Johnny Lanza. Junior midfielder Kamar Wilson will take on an expanded role in the midfield and senior keeper Trey Gohr will direct his defense which conceded less than one goal per game in 2022.   Key non-district matches: Oscar Smith, Grassfield, and Lafayette   5A Bayside Marlins   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/bay.jpg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-106492" width="280" height="392" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Braden Barkley Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Ended up finishing a respectable 6-8-2 and lost in the region quarterfinals to state champion Cox.   The Marlins produced six wins in 2022, their most since 2014 and look to build off of that momentum. Even with the departure of four starters, their core returns starting with senior captain attacking midfielder Braden Barkley who will direct the attack along with sophomore forward Ibrahim Diabagate. Senior Ben Bermudez will man the goal with returning starters sophomore Landon Barnhill and senior Noah Simmons leading the effort in the defensive end. In talking with Barkley, he stated, "We want to be better in the attack and make it the region tournament with a better seeding."   Key non-district matches: Hickory, Oscar Smith, and Nandua   5A Princess Anne Cavaliers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/5BD2BD7E-8547-4C78-9744-C3C224E86450.jpeg?w=541" alt="" class="wp-image-107396" width="280" height="366" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Will Jennings </figcaption></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/D2694111-A83A-49F1-A081-A84CD71AD864.jpeg?w=550" alt="" class="wp-image-107398" width="280" height="377" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='30985' first='Kishin' last='Togashi']</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Princess Anne was ranked in the top 10 throughout the season and won 12 games in a tough beach district but got knocked out by state champion Cox in the region semifinals. Finished the season 13-5-0.   Longtime college coach and Virginia Wesleyan University Hall of Famer Sonny Travis takes the helm at Princess Anne with the departure of Sean Stowe (Landstown). He has plenty of returning talent to work with in senior midfielder Wyatt Wetzler (2nd team all-region), junior forward Will Jennings (1st team all-region), and sophomore standout midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='30985' first='Kishin' last='Togashi']. Also joining the potent Cavalier attack will be senior Josh Williamson and newcomer freshman winger Josia Roberts. There are some holes to fill on the back line to address with departure of captains Rocco Brola, Josh Cruz, keeper Matthew Fox, and region player of the year midfielder Lucas White.   Key non-district matches: Great Bridge, Maury, and Hickory   5A Kempsville Chiefs   2022 Recap: Qualified for the region tournament for the first time since 2018 but fell to First Colonial and finished 8-7-1.   The Chiefs lost four seniors that were four-year starters, including two all-region players but Coach Leroi Wilson has eight returning starters that should have his squad in a good position. "If we play as a team, we should be able to compete at a high level and we could surprise some teams," he said. Key returning players include junior winger Cameron Lambert who was the leading scorer last season, sophomore center midfielder Curtis Olds who will be directing the offense in the attacking end, and junior center back Morgan Hurst who has started since his freshman year will be the leader on the back line.   Key non-district matches: Great Bridge, Maury, and Hickory   5A Tallwood Lions   2022 Recap: Complied a 2-13-0 record after going winless in 2021   Coach Brad Watahovich is optimistic for 2023, "We have a large senior class and most of the seniors have been with us since I took over in 2020," he said. He believes he has a team that can make the regional tournament for the first time in a long time at Tallwood and stated, "The coaching staff and players have been working tirelessly to have a program-changing year." Seniors Johathan Parr, Victor Decano, CJ Mainor, Ricky Brewington, Bruce Marshall, Gamal Nasser, and James-ley Arisnor look to get the Lions back on track in their final year.   Key non-district matches: Bruton, Norview, and Manor

First Colonial ended a long slump for the beach district in 2021 by winning a class 5 state championship and Cox made it two in a row in 2022. Who can step up in 2023 and make it three years in a row for the beach?