A year ago, the Handley High School boys’ soccer team entered the season with a veteran defense, but needed to replace many of its best offensive playmakers.
The 2025 Judges had players fill the squad’s offensive needs admirably. This year’s team packs plenty of returning scoring punch, but must replace elite leaders from its back line.
Replacing those graduated defenders won’t be easy. But one thing’s for sure — with a 34-3 record the last two seasons and just six losses on the field the last three seasons, all of the players on Handley’s roster know how to win games. Now, the Judges hope to take the next step in the postseason after being one win away from the state tournament each of the last three seasons.
The Judges (17-2) return players who recorded 66 goals and 53 assists last year, including two players who had double-digit goals and two who had double-digit assists.
Handley will be led by All-Region 4D First Team selections Isaac Carter (tied for second in the area with 20 goals and tied for seventh with seven assists) and junior midfielder Micah Combs (led the area with 21 assists, also had seven goals) and Region 4D Second Team selection Finn Slaughter, a senior midfielder who ranked fifth in the area with 15 goals and had four assists. Senior midfielder Frankie Gomez (11 assists, two goals) is also back after earning Second Team All-Area honors last season.
Handley loses three starters on defense, including Winchester Star Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year Jackson Justice, the area’s only Class 4 All-State selection last year. Jackson now plays for the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
The Judges do return their elite goaltender, senior Aidan King-Miller. The Region 4D Honorable Mention selection led the area with a 0.58 goals against average and 10 shutouts, and ranked third with 5.84 saves per game.
Handley has lost to Charlottesville in the Region 4D semifinals each of the last two seasons. The Black Knights return four of their five First Team All-Region 4D selections from last year’s state semifinalists. Three of those players earned All-State honors.
In Class 2, Clarke County is targeting its sixth straight state tournament berth. The Eagles have advanced to at least the state semifinals in each of the last five years, with last year’s squad falling in the semis to Glenvar. The Highlanders went on to win their third straight state title.
Former assistant Marc Herman is now leading the Eagles (15-7) after Patrick Casey stepped down after eight seasons as head coach. He’ll guide a squad that lost three All-State players but still features two.
Senior midfielder Johnny Mercer earned Class 2 First Team honors and was named Region 2B and Bull Run District Player of the Year. Mercer tied for sixth in the area with 12 goals and tied for second with 12 assists. The Eagles also bring back All-State First Team senior forward Burns Beckett (ranked fourth in the area with 18 goals and had four assists) and Second Team All-Bull Run District defender Carter Frame, a junior who had seven assists last season.
Back in Class 4, Frederick County figures to field some competitive squads once again.
Millbrook (9-7-1) features a dynamic scorer in junior forward Ian Melnikoff. He tied for second in the area with 20 goals and had four assists en route to earning Region 4D Second Team honors last year.
The Pioneers also have senior forward David Avila-Moreno (seven goals, eight assists; Second Team All-Northwestern District); senior midfielder Steve Luna Pleitez (Second Team All-Area) and four-year starting senior goalkeeper Brandt Upson (Second Team All-Area), who led the area with 8.12 saves per game, recorded four shutouts and allowed 1.93 goals per game.
James Wood (8-8-3) will be led by new coach Chris Johnson, who has extensive high school coaching experience in southwest Virginia. He takes over for Ronald Velasquez.
The Colonels return the area’s leading scorer in Brayden Pineda (22 goals). He also tied for second in the area with 12 assists en route to earning Second Team All-Region 4D honors. Junior midfielder Triston Debela (Second Team All-Area) scored seven goals last year. Wood will not have Northwestern District First Team selection Daylin Paige (12 goals), who is focusing on club soccer this season.
Sherando (7-10) finished sixth in the Region 4D North last year, one spot behind James Wood for the North’s last playoff spot. The Warriors lost 13 seniors and all four of their All-Area selections last year. Senior midfielder Lukas Moezer returns after scoring four goals last year.
The following is a breakdown provided by the area coaches:
Handley
Coach: Cosmo Balio, 16th season
Last year: 17-2; lost to Charlottesville in Region 4D semifinals.
Key losses: Jackson Justice, Axel Grimaldo, Javier Chavez, Maxwell Riley.
Key returnees: Isaac Carter, Sr., F; Aidan King-Miller, Sr., GK; Micah Combs, Jr., M; Finn Slaughter, Sr., M; Frankie Gomez, Sr. M; Juan Jimenez Ramirez, Sr., M; Skip Dickson, Sr., D; Brian Escobar, So., D; Hudson Slaughter, So., M; Josias Ramirez-Bonitto, Jr., D.; Evan Creamer, Sr., F.
Key newcomers: Christian Cruz Ruiz, Sr., M; Ignacio Berazal Almagro, Jr., M; Brayan Vargas-Bustos, Jr., D; Darbyn Guerra, So., D; Caleb King-Miller, So., M; Bradley Seabright, So., M; Jose Daniel Vallecillo Amaya, So., M; Jason Cruz Cruz, Fr., D; Timothy Hammett, Fr., D.
Balio’s outlook: “Following the departure of veteran leaders Jackson Justice, Axel Grimaldo and Javier Chavez, we are focused on defining a new identity for Handley soccer. Our squad is leaning into a youth movement, balancing 11 returners with 10 newcomers. Our defense remains anchored by senior goalkeeper Aidan King-Miller, with Skip Dickson and Brian Escobar leading the backline. We expect to remain highly competitive by powering our midfield through Isaac Carter, Micah Combs and Finn Slaughter, while looking to Juan Jimenez Ramirez, Frankie Gomez, Hudson Slaughter and Evan Creamer to drive our scoring. The success of our season will largely depend on the development of our midfielders and strikers, especially after graduating a backline that only allowed nine goals last year.
“Our schedule is incredibly demanding, with matches against two defending state champions — Lightridge (Class 5) and Meridian (Class 3). While we look forward to these challenges and our local district rivalries, our primary focus is the Region 4D playoffs. The path to the state tournament remains difficult as it still runs through Charlottesville. For us, the key will be staying healthy and continuing to develop throughout the season. If we can do that, we feel confident we’ll be in contention when it matters most. But time will tell.
“We are especially impressed with the leadership and growth of Micah Combs, Isaac Carter and Aidan King-Miller. All three were All-Area and All-Region selections last year and have returned with a high level of focus and intensity. Isaac continues to be a constant threat in our attack, while Micah remains the creative engine of our midfield. Defensively, Aidan’s presence in goal provides a veteran anchor that gives our new backline the confidence they need to develop. Beyond their play on the field, the way these three have mentored our 10 newcomers has been vital to our team chemistry and early progress.”
First game: Friday at Liberty
Clarke County
Coach: Marc Herman, first season
Last year: 15-7 (10-2 Bull Run District); Bull Run District champions; lost to Glenvar in Class 2 state semifinals.
Key losses: Brody Murphy, Emmet Morris, Jose Ramirez.
Key returnees: Johnny Mercer, Sr.; Burns Beckett, Sr., M; Carter Frame, Jr., D.
Key newcomers: None mentioned.
Herman’s outlook: “My former colleagues Patrick Casey and Tom Elliston have put the Clarke County High School program in a position of long-standing success, and I hope to continue their legacy this year with my new assistant, Levi Dofermire. This team has the capability collectively to do anything they choose to set their mind to this year, but it is entirely up to them how far they go. It is going to take hard work and dedication, but I am confident that leaders will step up and put a product on the pitch that the community can be proud of.”
First game: Thursday at James Wood
Millbrook
Coach: Rhonda Cottino, fourth season
Last year: 9-7-1; lost to Charlottesville in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Kyle Arthur, Yael Saavedra-Hernandez, Alex Calixto-Cruz, Joel Vazquez, Jhonatan Arevalo-Argueta, Colton Barr, Philipp Aframchuk, Christopher Bonilla Garcia.
Key returnees: Brandt Upson, Sr., GK; Ian Escobar-Diaz, Sr., D; John Lopez-Rojas, Sr., M; David Avila-Moreno, Sr., F; Steve Luna Pleitez, Sr., M; Ian Melnikoff, Jr., F; Evan Gong, So., M.
Key newcomers: Yair Hernandez Hurtado, Jr., D; Jackson Carr, Sr., D; Talon Carrier, Jr., M; Jude Cusick, Jr., D; Cason Barr, Sr., D/M; Diego Medina Rodriguez, Jr., D.
Cottino’s outlook: “We hope to be competitive both locally and outside of the area this year. For the past few years, we’ve struggled in the region tournament, and of course we’d like to see that change. I’m impressed with the leadership from my upperclassmen so far. I hope to see us mesh earlier in the season this year. We started a little too slow last year, and we hope to find our rhythm a little earlier this year.”
Next game: Friday at Sherando
James Wood
Coach: Christopher Johnson, first season
Last year: 8-8-3; lost to Handley in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Zach Myers, Seth Rakowski, Daylin Paige, Jesus Hernandez-Portillo, Owen Swiger, Cody Woodson, Tristan Escalona, Noah Nieman.
Key returnees: Brayden Pineda, Sr., F; Santiago Rojas, Sr., F; Aidan Bell, Sr., D; Logan Bittner, Sr., D; Triston Debela, Jr., M.
Key newcomers: Joaquim Dias, Jr., M (transfer from Brazil); Elvin Trejo, Jr., M.
Johnson’s outlook: “As far as philosophy and focus for my first year coaching, I am committed to creating a culture of trust. The expectation is that all players and coaches will be selfless and will assume the best in one another. I believe that goes a long way in accomplishing our goals on and off the pitch. Fundamentally, we’re going to focus on touch, possession and fitness. I don’t want to lose matches because those three things weren’t up to par. Tactically, we’ll focus more on midfield development and distribution than we have in the past, from my understanding.
“I am excited for the season and expect to be successful. We’re young, but all of the guys are hard workers and are committed to the cause. We have 22 players on our roster and I’m confident all of them have the ability to get minutes in any match we’ll play. I believe our depth will serve us well. We also have a very talented JV squad with some players that have potential to be pulled up for high-stakes varsity matches. I have no doubt we’ll be competitive in the district and hope to make a deep run in the postseason.”
First game: Wednesday at Liberty
Sherando
Coach: Seth Wade, third season
Last year: 7-10.
Key losses: Jackson Hepner, Landon Rust, Timothy Hill, Jared Flores Covarrubias, Jack Weisbrod, Zachary Pendzich, Henry Knight, Ean Hess, Brayan Osorio Cruz, Yahir Marquez Campos, Joshua Mills, Grant Li, James-Henry Hoffman.
Key returnees: Benjamin Branner, Jr., M; Matthew Fernandez Quiroz, Sr., M; Johan Garcia Cruz, Sr., D; Colby Groce, Jr., GK; Daniel Hill, So., M; Lukas Moezer, Sr., M; Ian Sargent, Jr., F; Treyvonne Washington, Sr., D.
Key newcomers: Yovani Acevedo Trejo, Jr., F; Waizzyee Ali, So., F; Brandon Bustamante Osorio, Jr., GK; Gabriel Elvira Hernandez, Sr., D; Lane Fisher, So., D; Gael Flores Covarrubias, So., D; Isai Fuentes Cruz, So., F; Emerson Hoffman, Jr., F; Chase Jenkins, So., F; Cullen Lincoln, Fr., M; David Rivas Portillo, So., D; Nico Rueda, Jr., D; Shokhjakhon Shaykhov, Fr., F; Emiliano Zamora Munoz, Fr., F.
Wade’s outlook: “I am really excited for the season with this group of guys. We graduated 13 seniors last year, so we have a lot of new faces and a lot of holes to fill. Many of our newcomers were a part of our successful JV team last year and we are looking forward to carrying that into this season. Joel Witt did a great job preparing these guys for the varsity level so even though we are young, I think that we will be able to compete. Last year we did not meet our goals as a team. We are striving to make progress year to year and be constantly improving. As always, the district will be competitive and every game is up for grabs.
“Having a young team has some pros and cons. We lack some experience and leadership that our returning players will really need to step up to replace. But we also have a lot of hungry and determined guys in our group. We took a big squad to make competition for playing time and I think that will help keep training at a high level every day. Our returning seniors (Lukas, Treyvonne, Johan and Matthew) have all stepped up in big ways. Besides being talented players, they are vocal at training and have been setting the standard for how we want to do things. They are great guys and positive examples for our younger players to look up to.”
First game: Friday at Millbrook
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
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