Boys SE Virginia Regional Previews: 6A East

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A East #1 seed:</strong> The Kellam Knights have held down the no. 1 ranking since week four of the season and have been a dominant force all year posting the only perfect record in SE Virginia at 14-0-0. More impressively, they have wins over nine ranked opponents throughout the course the season. Unless a team can upset the Knights in the regional tournament, they are favored to claim one of the two 6A spots in the class 6 state tournament. Kellam has earned a bye in the 6A tournament first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch include senior keepers Will Stanley and Matthew Yates, senior defenders Leo Fajardo, Hamilton Howes, and Sam Ricciardella who all played a part in posting 10 clean sheets and allowing only five goals all season. In the attacking end, senior midfielders [player_tooltip player_id='127949' first='Carson' last='Stretz'], Ayden Cass, and Josh Nevins along with freshman forward JuShaun Johnson form a potent attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":136886,"width":321,"height":428,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/IMG_8394-rotated.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-136886" width="321" height="428" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hamilton Howes</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A East #2 seed:</strong> Landstown ended the regular season ranked no.14 after suffering three losses down the stretch to no. 8 Cox, no. 1 Kellam, and no. 6 First Colonial to finish at 11-5-0. Like Kellam, the Eagles have a first round bye and an opportunity to get healthy with the short break. Senior Keeper Trey Gohr posted seven shutouts with the help of defenders senior Gabriel Canfield, senior Kaleb Jackson, and sophomore Nolan Brown. Junior Kamar Wilson, junior Jace McSwain, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='170719' first='Ryan' last='Walsh'], senior Aiden Dailey, and freshman Johnny Lanza are all a part of the Eagle attack that is capable of carrying the Eagles in the post-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":117635,"width":321,"height":429,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/03/089E675C-414B-46EF-B434-B3532BED7CED-rotated.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-117635" width="321" height="429" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kamar Wilson</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A East #3 seed:</strong> Ocean Lakes is my sleeper pick to make a run at states after finishing the year ranked #10 at 10-4-2. Their four losses are to no. 8 Cox (after extra time), no. 14 Landstown (1-2), no. 1 Kellam (after extra time), and no. 6 First Colonial (1-3). They own wins over ranked squads no. 12 Smithfield, no. 8 Cox, and no. 11 Grafton. The Dolphins won five straight down the stretch and are in great form. Senior keeper Michael Arzillo starts play out of the back with junior defenders Canon Robins and Owen Wilbricht, freshman Jace Asercion, and senior Dylan Tomayo. The attack was recently helped with the return of senior Derek Sapone who joins senior Sam Wiggins in the attacking end. The Dolphins also get major contributions from senior Vinny Baker, junior Noah Ridgeway, sophomore Gian Marrero, junior Jesse Gutierrez, and junior Colin Murns. The Dophins will host #6 seed Oscar Smith (6-9-1) in the first round with the winner facing Landstown in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":136887,"width":321,"height":428,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/IMG_8350-rotated.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-136887" width="321" height="428" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dylan Tamayo and Sam Wiggins</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A East #4 seed:</strong> Western Branch (8-7-1) posted their highest win total dating back at least seven years and are ranked no. 20 heading into the post-season. All seven of their losses were to ranked teams so they are no stranger to playing quality opponents. Freshman keeper Brady Miller (six clean sheets), senior forward Ayden Floyd, and senior Kyle Scopes will lead the Bruins into the post-season with a first round match versus no. 16 Grassfield whom they drew 2-2 in a mid-season tilt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":138173,"width":321,"height":429,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/05/IMG_7963-rotated.jpeg?w=768" alt="Ayden Floyd" class="wp-image-138173" width="321" height="429" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A East #5 seed:</strong> Grassfield started the season 0-5-2 but rebounded to finish 6-6-3 including a 0-0 draw versus no. 3 Hickory in their final match. The Grizzlies are led by six senior starters, keeper Miles Smith, midfielder Luke Shearer, forward Juan Gutierrez, outside back Jaxon Mills, defender Wyatt Fontaine, and defender Jacob Greene. The winner of the Grassfield versus Western Branch match will face no. 1 Kellam in the quarterfinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->