Virginia Girls Spring Preview: Beach and Southeastern Districts

The Beach district is coming off an unprecedented year in 2022 after sending four teams to state tournaments, two in both class 5 and class 6. Unfortunately, none were able to return to the 757 with any hardware. In class 6, Kellam lost in the final and Ocean Lakes was knocked out in the quarterfinals. Over in class 5, First Colonial lost in the final and Cox was eliminated in the semifinals.   5A First Colonial Patriots   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/C909D2EA-FBA4-4417-A443-6F9A62A99F70.jpeg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-113055" width="550" height="384" /></figure>   2022 Recap: The Patriots held the number one ranking throughout 2022 as they chased their third state championship in four years. Their bid came up a goal short as they were defeated in the class 5 state final by Briar Woods 1-0. Finished the year at 17-2-1 with their only other loss coming to class 6 powerhouse South County in their second game of the year. The Patriots have qualified for the state tournament in each of the last five years with championships in 2018 and 2021.   Region 5A coach of the year Joe Tucei lost 1st team all-state player and all-tidewater player of the year in forward Karleigh Minson and all-region sweeper Juliann Rink but he has a plethora of returning stars and two sophomores in defender Ava Bourne and midfielder Kylie White who will look to make an impact in 2023. 1st team all-state selections (University of Tennessee commits) junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='27983' first='Skylar' last='Miller'] (13G/12A) and junior midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='27998' first='Sydney' last='Miller'] (19G/12A) along with 2nd team all-region forward Joryn Wold (5G/11A) whom Tucei is looking for to have a breakout season will form an attack that will be second to none in the state. 1st team all-state junior Maddie Kainer, 2nd team all-region senior Cami Minson, and senior Katie Royle form a back line that is experienced and calm under pressure. Senior midfielder Macie Mugler (3G/5A) and junior midfielder Keaveny Dull (4G/2A) will also be key starters that look to get First Colonial back to the state tournament.   Key non-district matches: Hickory, Grassfield, and Jamestown   6A Kellam Knights   2022 Recap: Posted 16 clean sheets enroute to an 18-2-0 record where the Knights advanced to the state tournament for the third time in five years. Kellam rolled through the regional tournament besting Western Branch, James River Midlothian, and Ocean Lakes and then taking down Battlefield and South County in states. In the state final Kellam fell in a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Yorktown.   Region 6A coach of the year Mario Hurdle returns for his 20th season and only lost two starters to graduation, but they were both 1st team all-state performers forward Chloe Limbach and defender Abigail Pesut but he does return nine starters from his state finalist squad. "Expectations are no different than any other year. After graduating some key players, the attitude has not changed. The potential is there to have a successful season. Keys to a successful season will be on how the talented newcomers will assimilate their roles on the team," he said. Starting in the back, 2nd team all-state senior keeper Kylee Cass (University of Lynchburg commit) leads a core of keepers that were a strength in 2022. Hurdle has versatile players in 2nd team all-state junior midfielder/defender [player_tooltip player_id='46428' first='Ava' last='Chuderewicz'] (12G/11A), sophomore Dylan McEntarfer who he calls "One of the best young players in the area," and freshman Reagan Thompson who will look to find minutes at a variety of positions. The attack will start up top with 1st team all-region junior forward Lauren Crowley (8G/11A) and senior Kristen Bernal (5G). Rounding out the midfield is 2nd team all-region junior midfielder/defender Allyssa Chuderewicz (8G/13A).   Key non-district matches: Jamestown, Norfolk Academy, and Grassfield   6A Ocean Lakes Dolphins   2022 Recap: After finishing the regular season at 8-4-2, the Dolphins pulled off two shocking wins versus Grassfield and Cosby (penalty shootout) before falling in the region final to Kellam. A 1-0 loss to Patriot in the state quarterfinals ended a memorable run for Ocean Lakes which finished at 10-6-2.   The Dolphins will rely on 1st team all-state senior forward Emily Box, 2nd team all-state senior defender Sierra Clark and senior keeper Kenzie Stinson to get Ocean Lakes back to postseason play in 2023.   Key non-district matches: Western Branch, Grassfield, and Norfolk Academy   6A Landstown Eagles   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/EB7724F8-5D78-4184-9367-E482D06615FD.jpeg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-113311" width="400" height="501" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peyton Curney</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Finished 9-5-2 and did not qualify for postseason play for the first time under Coach Mike Moore.   Coach Moore will look to 1st team all-state attacker senior captain Petyon Curney (Longwood University commit) to lead the offense in the final third. "She is very skilled, has a lot of pace, and a knack for finding the goal," he said. The Eagles most versatile player is 2nd team all-region defender senior captain Janessa Lowe (Virginia Wesleyan University commit) who can play in the back, distribute, and has the ability to score goals as well. Senior Seun Olayinka will play a major role in the midfield, while defenders Angelina Tran (returning from injury) and Raelyn Woodhouse will start on the back line.   Key non-district matches: Grassfield, Western Branch, Lafayette   6A Grassfield Grizzlies   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/7DA31BE2-DBDD-4E20-9A14-401ED2C5DFD8.jpeg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-113318" width="400" height="393" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Courtesy photo Grassfield Girls</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Went unbeaten in district play at 8-0-1 with all of their losses coming against top beach district foes. Ended up 10-5-1 after a 1-0 loss to Ocean Lakes in the region quarterfinals.   Coach Kevin Ellis looks to get over the hump and put Grassfield into the state tournament and has high expectations. "We are hoping to make it two district titles in a row as we have 11 seniors on the squad with some good young additions and hope to push for a state tournament berth," he said. Departed 2nd team all-region forward Isobel Evans and Nicole Conde were the 2nd and 3rd leading scores respectively and their production will need replaced. Key returners are senior keeper Nicole Conde who will get help from senior defender Brielle Stahl on the back line. 1st team all-region standout and leading scorer junior midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='46444' first='Katie' last='Dowd'] (11G/5A) will lead the midfield alongside junior Ciera Frick. Also in the attack will be two players returning from injury, sophomore forward Bella Franco and senior forward Jillian Heare who look to have comeback seasons.   Key non-district matches: Cox, Kellam, and First Colonial   5A Hickory Hawks   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/240E90CA-A70D-4832-997C-4DFB489660D6.jpeg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-113113" width="550" height="416" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Courtesy photo Hickory Girls</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Came up just short of returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2019 after losing to Cox 2-1 in overtime in the region semifinals. Finished the year 10-4-2.   Head Coach Jeff Rodarmel returns for his second season at the helm of the Hawks. He will need to replace three key players in all-tidewater defender Jenna Brinkley, 1st team all-region forward Molly Westerman, and 1st team all-region midfielder Jess Michalski. There are quality starters returning in the center of the pitch in 2nd team all-region junior center back Melanie Faulkner and sophomore center back Zoe Cashman. In the midfield, 2nd team all-region sophomore Charlotte Petchel looks to repeat her successful freshman season alongside junior Abby Ostasiewski. Senior forward Grayson Sanoba will lead the attack in final third and look for freshman center defensive mid [player_tooltip player_id='110452' first='Julia' last='Delgado'] to have a breakout year.   Key non-district matches: Bayside, York, and First Colonial   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/A7FB5BBD-9EFB-4987-B766-9099B9D24DCB.jpeg?w=695" alt="" class="wp-image-113112" width="550" height="364" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Courtesy photo Princess Anne Girls</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Qualified for the region tournament where they defeated Kempsville and then lost to First Colonial in the semifinals.   Coach Dwayne James has five returning all-region players to build his squad around for 2023. "Overall, the team is offensively and defensively very well balanced and we look to improve on our 11-6-0 and 5th-place finish in the Beach District," he said. 2nd team all-region senior midfielder Amelia Manke (12G/7A Washington and Lee University commit) is a force in the midfield contributing on both sides of the ball. The midfield is also patrolled by 2nd team all-region junior Audren Barclay (10G/5A) who is poised for a breakout season, and he also returns the attacking trio of 1st team all-region junior Izzy Cobos (Virginia Commonwealth University commit), 2nd team all-region sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='58039' first='Nina' last='Murthy'], and Amy Woodworth who combined for 41 goals and 21 assists last season. Defensively, they are anchored by 2nd team all-region senior Olivia Braunbeck who is also a track athlete and has the pace to make good recovery runs as well as the physicality to engage any opponent. Coach James is also looking for Caroline White and Rhianna Pena to have breakout campaigns.   Key non-district matches: Western Branch, Smithfield, and Maury   4A Great Bridge Wildcats   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/GB-G.jpeg?w=732" alt="" class="wp-image-113045" width="400" height="560" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='57663' first='Audrey' last='Orrock'] & Hannah Zayicek Photo: Rich Images Photography</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: Had their best season in recent memory at 12-4-1 but their bid for the state tournament ended in the region semifinals in a crushing extra time defeat to Jamestown.   Coach Micah Moyer has put together a challenging schedule to test his girls and prepare them for post-season play. His goal is a simple one, "State birth or bust, our team feels the season ended sooner than it should have last year. We have a balanced team across all grades with a lot of valuable club experience," he said. Moyer has arguably the best young striker in the area in 1st team all-state sophomore striker [player_tooltip player_id='57663' first='Audrey' last='Orrock'] who lit up the 757 with 32 goals in 2022. 1st team all-region senior captain midfielder Hannah Zayicek is the lead playmaker who finished with 20 assists will lead from the center of the pitch along with sophomore midfielder Maya Carmona who Moyer calls "A midfield maestro who is clever with and without the ball." At the defensive end, 1st team all-region sophomore Riley Duba, and 2nd team all-region junior Charmiss Tucker, junior defensive mid Sophia Branch look to keep shots away from sophomore keeper Lexie Miller who has sure hands and brilliant shot stopping ability. 2nd team all-region senior striker Callie Crook will look to find open space if teams concentrate on Orrock and capitalize in the box.   Key non-district matches: Cox, York, and Smithfield   5A Cox Falcons   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/E79D4330-E9C3-4DF9-86AF-53D1335B7999.jpeg?w=584" alt="" class="wp-image-113374" width="400" height="538" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='46427' first='Amanda' last='Frank']</figcaption></figure>   2022 Recap: The Falcons returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2018 where they defeated Maury in the quarterfinals before falling to class 5 state champion Briar Woods in the semifinals. Ranked in the top five in the 757 the entire year and finished at 15-5-1.   Coach Michele Clark only lost three starters to graduation, captains Sara Twisdale and Ema Christian and forward Niamh McLeod who were all-region selections but has a bevy of returning stars. 1st team all-state and all-tidewater senior center back Amanda will lead the back line along with 2nd team all-state junior defender Aniya Fraser in front of 2nd team all-region junior keeper Kate Hobbs. The midfield is stacked with returners who were all named 2nd team all-region, junior Delaney Hood, senior captains Caroline Blanchard (Randolph-Macon College), Madison Blanchard (Randolph-Macon College), and Kirkland Wilson (Shenandoah University). 2nd team all-state junior forward Makiah Correa will pace the Falcons up top.   Key non-district matches: Grassfield, Norfolk Academy, and Great Bridge   6A Western Branch Bruins   2022 Recap: Produced their second solid season in row at 11-5-1 and made their third consecutive post-season appearance where they fell to Kellam in the quarterfinals.   The Bruins will look to 2nd team all-region senior midfielder Caleigh Burris, sophomore midfielder Jayda Sutton, and sophomore center back Sasha Daniel to lead them through a tough schedule and a return to the region tournament.   Key non-district matches: Princess Anne, Landstown, and Kellam

The Beach district is coming off an unprecedented year in 2022 after sending four teams to state tournaments, two in both class 5 and class 6. Unfortunately, none were able to return to the 757 with any hardware. In class 6, Kellam lost in the final and Ocean Lakes was knocked out in the quarterfinals. Over in class 5, First Colonial lost in the final and Cox was eliminated in the semifinals.