Spring Preview: Virginia Girls Beach District

<strong>5A First Colonial Patriots</strong> [caption id="attachment_31622" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-31622 size-thumbnail" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/09/5C9F7B2D-E3E4-47AA-9047-E4D02BCEDABF-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>Karleigh Minson</strong>[/caption] <strong>2021 Recap: </strong>Defending Virginia Class 5 State Champions and compiled a 13-1-1 record. Avenged their only loss of the season to Cox by beating them 4-1 in the region final. FC will look to defend its state title and go back-to-back with a bevy of returning starters. The attack is led by the area’s best, 2021 All-Tidewater Player of the Year senior forward Karleigh Minson (21 G). She has plenty of help scoring goals with sophomores, forward Skylar Miller (16 G) and her twin sister midfielder/defender [player_tooltip player_id="27998" first="Sydney" last="Miller"] (11 G) both of whom are also standouts for Richmond United in the ECNL. Sophomore keeper Charlotte Burge will take over in goal after splitting time last year with Allison Karpovich (Virginia Commonwealth). Protecting the final third at the defensive end will be senior Juliann Rink and sophomore Maddie Kainer. Other key members returning are senior midfielder Perrin Battafarana, sophomore midfielder Keaveny Dull, junior Macie Mugler, and junior Hayley Rosenfield. [caption id="attachment_30901" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-30901 size-thumbnail" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/09/971D6EAC-9299-4C6D-999A-634404F37BB5-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>Alyssa Chuderewicz</strong>[/caption] <strong>6A East Kellam Knights</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 10-1-2. The season ended with a region final loss to Cosby 2-0 which was their only defeat of the year. Did not concede a goal until the 10th game of the year. Coach Mario Hurdle brings back a solid core for 2022 with expectations that are no different than any other year. Key returners include sophomores Ava and Alyssa Chudewicz, Nadia Lexa, and Lauren Crowley; juniors Abigail Smith (Virginia Wesleyan) and Jashyra Johnson; and seniors Chloe Limbach (VCU) and Abigail Pesut (Randolph Macon). "After graduating some key players, the attitude has not changed," Hurdle said. "The potential is there to have a successful season. Keys will be on how the talented newcomers will assimilate their roles on the team. Staying healthy physically and mentally thru the stretch will be key as well. Our core players know what its like to reach the ultimate goal, now is their turn to keep the focus, and humility in their work." Kellam does have a few key players with injuries that are expected back by mid-season. <strong>6A East Ocean Lakes Dolphins</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Finished 6-4-1 and were eliminated by Cosby in the region quarterfinals. Coach Christine Thornton has a relatively inexperienced roster for 2022. Returning players include junior forward Emily Box, senior forward Ellie Jain-Kuzniewski who will both be a presence up top. Defensively, junior Sierra Clark will lead the back line in front of junior keeper Kenzie Stinson. "We graduated 11 seniors with six starters," Thornton said. "Time and experience will let us better gauge our goals and expectations for the season but we have great team chemistry so far and the girls are working hard." <strong>6A East Landstown Eagles</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Knocked out in region quarterfinals by Kellam. Posted a 6-4-1 record with three of their losses coming to FC and Kellam (twice). Coach Mike Moore will look to get the Eagles to the regional tournament for the fourth straight year with junior forward Peyton Curney up top and senior Sophia Durrant in the midfield. Newcomers include freshman Arianna Ruiz and Liana Mano. <strong>5A Cox Falcons</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Lost to state champion First Colonial in the region final. Posted seven clean sheets and went 9-2-2. Cox will look to get back to the familiar territory which is the state tournament after coming up a game short in 2021. Coach Michele Clark has a full squad coming back for 2022 including All-Tidewater defender [player_tooltip player_id="27606" first="Amanda" last="Frank"]. <strong>5A Princess Anne Cavaliers</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Missed the Region tournament but finished 5-3-2 after a 1-3-0 start to the season. <strong>5A Bayside Marlins</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> Compiled a respectable 4-5-1 record and finished fourth in Region 5A - Beach. <strong>5A Kempsville Chiefs</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 3-7-0 <strong>5A Salem Sun Devils</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 1-9-0 <strong>5A Green Run Stallions</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 0-9-0 <strong>5A Tallwood Lions</strong> <strong>2021 Recap:</strong> 1-8-0