Girls’ Soccer: Defending Champ Colonels Will Face Competitive District

Posted: March 17, 2015
By JOSH DORSEY
Special to The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — As spring rolls in and we dust off the flip-flips and barbecues there is more to look forward to in the area than the juicy hamburgers and the smell of freshly cut grass. That’s the sizzle of what looks to be another hotly competitive year of girls’ soccer.

James Wood is not only the defending regular season Northwestern District champions, but they return district coach of the year Jim Carden for another season and the reigning district player of the year in senior midfielder Alex Stanford who will be playing for NCAA Division I Lafayette next year.

However, the offseason wasn’t all kind to the Colonels, who finished 9-4-4 (5-1-2 district) last season, because one of James Wood’s other standouts won’t be on the team this year. Junior Emily Denton is choosing not to play for the Colonels and will focus on her club soccer team.

“Emily gave us two years and helped turn the program around,” Carden said. “She is a big loss but she’s doing what’s right for her and I respect that. We’ll move on. You can’t replace her because of the goals she’s scored but we have the players that can pick up the slack.”

Despite winning the district last year Carden knows his team has his work cut out for him this year with the area rivals, and maybe even more so with the team’s Conference 21 competition.

“I’ve seen the district grow over the years and Millbrook, Sherando and Handley are about even and they should be the front-runners in the district,” Carden said. “The conference is a different story when you get teams in Loudoun County and teams over the mountain, you run into some good teams.”

The Colonels biggest challenge might come from Handley, who finished with a record of 9-5-4 (2-2-4) last season. The Judges return 14 players from last year’s team that finished fourth in the district but came on late and won the Conference 23 tournament.

Perhaps the Judges biggest returning piece is senior goalkeeper Ellie Volinsky. Volinsky was a first team all-district selection and was just one vote short from earning all-state honors.

“We look for her [Volinsky] to be a leader on the team and keep our goal-average-against down,” said Handley coach John Lynch.

With Volinsky holding down the back Handley will look to be more aggressive and avoid settling for the ties they did in the 2014 season that hurt them in the district standings.

“The big thing is we are going to be a little bit more possession minded” Lynch said. “We are going to attempt to control the ball a lot more this season. We have a lot more players that can play different positions and can produce from all of those positions so we will spread the wealth.”

The Judges offense will be led primarily by junior midfielder Katie Nerangis, who surprises defenses being left footed and the distance and power in her shot, according to Lynch. The Judges will also look to sophomore Natalie DeArment for their goal scoring and are excited for the return of Natalie’s sister Olivia DeArment, who missed last season with a torn ACL but is expected to be fully healthy.

One of Handley’s biggest losses may be the biggest gain for their rival from Stephens City. Junior forward Melida Berrios will be playing for Sherando this season after transferring from Handley. The Warriors, who finished second in the district the past two years, are also eyeing the top spot in the district and have the firepower to take it.

“We will lean on our two seniors, Audra Sites and returning goal scorer Erin Magalis, who was first team all district last year,” said Sherando coach Rob Kilmer. “In the back we will count on Amanda Hott as our goalie and we will look for leadership from Alex Snapp, Dreaya Somerville, Kelsey Singhas and Megan Triplett.”

It will also be important for Warrior fans to keep an eye on junior forward Olivia Elliot, who Kilmer looks to have a breakout season offensively.

Much like James Wood the Millbrook Pioneers also lost a key player who’s still in high school. Lauren Reed will not play this year to focus on her basketball future. However, the Pioneers are still loaded enough to take the district crown.

The Pioneers (8-3-5, 3-1-4) are returning stars Casey Ackerman (senior midfielder), Taylor Hicks (senior defender) and Nastasha Justice (senior midfielder) as well as adding the little sisters of Casey and Nastasha in Leah Ackerman (freshman defender) and Nickelette Justice (freshman midfielder), who are both expected to contribute.

“Obviously we have our district rivals and those are really intense games,” said Millbrook coach Matt Cottino. “It’s going to be interesting this year because we play all of our [conference and district] rivals at least once. We have to go play the Loudoun County teams. So we do have goals to compete with them and play our game.”

In the Bull Run District the Clarke County Eagles are looking for the return of their strong defense and goalkeeping to move them along and hopefully compete with girls’ soccer powerhouse George Mason.

Clarke was knocked out in the regional quarterfinals last season but returns first team All-Bull Run District and first team All-2A East Region goalkeeper Jessie Ambrosio.

“Jessie Ambrosio is an excellent goalkeeper,” said Clarke County coach Larry Hart. “She’s going to make stops that other people simply can’t make.”

The Eagles also return senior defensive star Allie Turner.

Soccer fans may want to make it out to see a few SVCA games this year. Coach Dustin Wheelock’s growing soccer program won everything possible last season, Including the VACA State Championship and the NACA (National Association of Christian Athletics) Division 1 Championship.

The Patriots are expecting much of the same. SVCA returns seniors Krista Freemire and Hannah McGann, who have both been on the varsity team since their seventh grade years. The Patriots also are bringing back senior goalkeeper Kayla Phaneuf, who has been on the varsity squad since she was a freshman.

“Our conference will be tough to win again,” Wheelock said. “We have some very tough schools that produce quality teams every year. We will have to compete at a high level if we wish to win.”

The following is a glance at each area team:

James Wood

Coach: Jim Carden, 7th year.

Last year: 9-4-4 (5-1-2 Northwestern District); district champions; lost to Woodgrove in Conference 21 quarterfinals.

Key losses: Emily Denton, Marissa Maddalena, Meghan Hammond.

Top returning players: Alex Stanford, Sr. M; Adrienne Thomas, Jr. D/F; Makayla Gloyd, Jr. D/M; Hannah Moszak, So. M; Charlie Woods-Hulse, Sr. G; Abby Lanham, Jr. M; Neary Casebolt, So. F.

Key newcomers: Olivia Pettler, Fr. M; Abigail Duck, Fr. M/D; Abbey Esparza, Fr. M; Katelyn High, Fr. F.

Carden’s outlook: “We are looking to build on last year. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, a little luck and the right chemistry. We are going to play as hard as we can and we aren’t at all worried about last year because this is a new year.”

Opening game: Saturday at Harrisonburg, 2:30 p.m.

Sherando

Coach: Rob Kilmer, 16th year.

Last year: 7-4-3 (4-2-2 Northwestern District); lost to Heritage in Conference 21 quarterfinals.

Key losses: Mandy Fogarty, Bri Rossi, Katelyn Tuck.

Top returning players: Erin Magalis, Sr. M; Audra Sites, Sr. M; Amanda Hott, So. G; Alex Snapp, Jr. D; Dreaya Somerville, Jr. D; Kelsey Singhas, Jr. D; Megan Triplett, So. D; Olivia Elliott, Jr. F; Taylor Fogarty, So. M; Ryan McKenna, Sr. M.

Key newcomers: Rhiannon Moore, Jr. F/G; Kathryn Robertson, Fr. F; Melida Berrios, Jr. F (transfer from Handley); Alexa Fairis, Fr. M; Abby Gibbs, So. M; Lauren Heskett, Fr. D.

Kilmer’s outlook: “Our outlook for the season is to win a district title and make the region tournament and try and make a run to the state tournament. We know it will be difficult because our conference is the toughest in the state. We never stop trying to achieve that goal.”

Opening game: Today at Briar Woods, 7:30 p.m.

Millbrook

Coach: Matt Cottino, 2nd year.

Last year: 8-3-5 (3-1-4 Northwestern District); lost to Dominion in Conference 21 quarterfinals.

Key losses: Alysse Hamm, Devan Davis, Holly Elko, Caitlin Schrader, Lauren Reed.

Top returning players: Casey Ackerman, Sr. M/F; Taylor Hicks, Sr. D; Nastasha Justice Sr. M/F; Britany Smoot, Sr. D; Nilsia Velasquez, Sr. M;

Key newcomers: Indigo Kupka Fr. G; Leah Ackerman, Fr. D; Nickelette Justice, Fr. M; Hannah Amos, Fr. M.

Cottino’s outlook: “Considering we haven’t practiced outside yet it’s been difficult. We did have two scrimmages that gave us a good chance to see where we are at. We only had one loss in the district but finished third because the amount of ties. We want to reduce the amount and turn them into wins and get back on top of the district and into regionals.”

Opening game: Thursday vs. Broadway, 5:30 p.m.

Handley

Coach: John Lynch, 5th year.

Last year: 9-5-4 (2-2-4 Northwestern District); Conference 23 champions; lost to E.C. Glass in 4A North Region quarterfinals.

Key losses: Madai Guzman, Scarlett Hutchins, Krystal Rosario.

Top returning players: Ellie Volinsky, Sr. G; Katie Nerangis, Jr. M; Olivia DeArment, Jr. M; Natalie DeArment, So. F; Ruthie Rosenfeld Jr. M; Kara Johnson, So. M; Rachel Levinson, Jr. M.

Key newcomers: Hailey Burke, Fr. D; Elisa Agustin, Jr. M.

Lynch’s outlook: “Our primary goal is to be more offensive minded. Try to continue to score more goals and get more wins instead of ties to help with our seeding and make a deeper run into the regional tournament and hopefully make it to states.”

Opening game: Today vs, Freedom (South Riding), 6 p.m.

Clarke County

Coach: Larry Hart, 2nd year.

Last year: 13-6-1 (11-4-1 Bull Run District); lost to Wilson Memorial in 2A East Region quarterfinals.

Key losses: Taylor Marshall, Jackie Tredway, Britney Foster.

Top returning players: Emily Deem, Sr. M; Allie Turner, Sr. D; Jessie Ambrosio, Sr. G; Madison Mackintosh, Sr. D; Michaela Harrell, Sr. M; Hannah Ravenscroft, Jr. M.

Key newcomers: Vivian Hurtado, Fr. M; Sydney Staples, Fr. M; Rachel Brown, Fr. D; Madyson Kosiorek, Fr. D; Danielle Toone, Fr. M.

Hart’s outlook: “Most people would say that we are second or third in the Bull Run District behind George Mason and William Monroe. To say that we are going to beat George Mason is a bold statement but we are certainly going to give them all we’ve got. The seniors are going to be really important.”

Opening game: Thursday at Manassas Park, 6 p.m.

SVCA

Coach: Dustin Wheelock, 8th year.

Last year: VACA North District Champions, North Region Champions and State Champions and NACA Division I Champions.

Key losses: Megan Norton, Katie Wykoff, Grace Snyder (injury).

Top returning players: Hannah McGann, Sr. F; Krista Freemire Sr. M; Kristen Hotek Sr. D; Abi Beaty, Jr. M; Kayla Phanuef, Sr. G; Anna Schloemer, So. M; Nikki Taylor, So. D; Anne Runion, Fr. M.

Key newcomers: Abigail Lynch, Fr. G; Mariah Baihly, So. M; Kaitlyn Santmyers, Fr. M; Jill Goben, Jr. M; Holly Goben, Fr. M; Cara Heflin, Fr. D; Luisa Gioscia, So. F; Julia Steele, Jr. D; Lara Baukholt, So. D; Cora Snyder, Fr. M; Catherine Eppard, So. M; Emma Shanabrook, Jr. M; Lea Sprogies, So. D; Susannah Green, Fr. D; Carrie Hotek, 8th grade, F; Kristen Ryan Fr. F.

Wheelock’s outlook: “We have a very exciting team this year. We are well-balanced in all our grades. I expect us to compete well this season and have the opportunity to win the same amount of hardware as last season. As always, it will come down to how effectively the team can gel together and buy into our system.”

Opening game: Today vs. Seton School, 4 p.m.