2017 Girls' soccer preview: Teams expect tough battle in Conference 21 West

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI THE WINCHESTER STAR | The Winchester Star

A year ago, Sherando girls’ soccer coach Rob Kilmer thought Woodgrove just might be the team to beat in Conference 21 West.

As it turned out, no one could beat the Wolverines — at least not in the conference.

Woodgrove only went 1-9 in non-conference regular-season games, which is why the Wolverines only earned the No. 5 seed in the six-team Conference 21 West tournament. (Conference 21 West seeds teams by their overall records for its tournament since Woodgrove and Harrisonburg don’t play each other during the regular season.)

But the Wolverines went 8-0-1 against conference foes in 2016, including wins against Harrisonburg, Handley and Millbrook to win the Conference 21 West tournament.

From the sound of it, going through the conference opponents unscathed might be a lot harder this year for anyone.

“I think [the conference is] anyone’s,” Kilmer said. “Anyone on any given night can get anyone else.”

Handley coach John Lynch is certainly aware of that.

The Judges earned the top seed in the Conference 21 West tournament last year with an 11-3-2 regular season record. The only conference team that didn’t either beat them or tie them was Harrisonburg, and the only conference team the Judges didn’t beat or tie was Woodgrove, and the Wolverines needed a penalty-kick shootout to beat Handley in the conference tournament semifinals.

“For some reason in our area, we love to kind of play even with each other,” Lynch said. “We might play someone out of the area and do super well, or just get absolutely demolished.

“But when it comes to playing your local opponents, there’s something about it. It’s more competitive, and somehow it’s more equal. I think it’s just based on playing your local rivals, and being excited for the game. There’s no dominant team that’s going to come out and say, ‘Yes, we’re the one that’s going to go 16-0.’ It’s up for grabs.”

The Judges — who lost nine seniors and return about half of their starters — feature the only returning player from last year’s 4A West Region team, midfielder Kara Johnson. An honorable mention selection, Johnson scored seven goals last year.

“She’ll probably play the same kind of role she’s had in the past with our midfield attack,” said Lynch of the first team all-conference pick. “It’s her senior year, so I expect a lot of things out of her. I think she’ll be pretty important to us not only in attack, but also in leadership. She’s played a lot of high-level soccer, and she kind of knows what the expectations of the program are, and ways to succeed.”

Fellow captain Natalie DeArment (second team all-conference, five goals) will also be counted on to lead Handley in midfield. Junior forward Julia Ricci (second team all-conference, six goals) is another proven goal-scorer, and Ricci’s younger sister Emma, a freshman, should also contribute this year.

Among the defensive leaders for the Judges are second team all-conference selection and outside back Hailey Burke, Sarah Snow at center back and goalkeeper Amanda Kesler (106 saves, three shutouts).

Sherando (seven returning starters) figures to have a lot of offensive punch this year with the return of four players who scored at least five goals last year.

Megan Triplett — a first-team all-conference selection — scored 10 goals last year, and the Warriors also feature midfielder Taylor Fogarty (five goals, five assists), forward Sydney Hunter (five goals, four assists) and defender Alexa Fairis (five goals).

“I think Megan and Sydney should be a good combination for us top, especially after a year of working with each other,” Kilmer said. “Both of them have improved, so I’m excited.”

Sherando also returns first team all-conference goalkeeper Kara Hendren (88 saves, three shutouts).

James Wood suffered the area’s biggest loss in Emily Denton, The Winchester Star Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year in 2016 after a season in which she led all public school players with 35 goals and added 12 assists.

The Colonels do bring back forward Katie Padgett, whose 13 goals and 11 assists are both tops among returning Frederick County/Winchester public school players.

Though she’s listed as a forward, James Wood coach Jim Carden said he might not put the equally dangerous Neary Casebolt (seven goals, five assists) up top with Padgett.

Carden moved Casebolt late in the season last year to strengthen the defense, and Carden is considering having her start the year there this year since she’s the most experienced defender on the team.

“We lost our whole back line,” Carden said. “But we’ve got position flexibility, so there are a few players we can play up top.”

James Wood does bring back starting goalkeeper Claire Beccaccio (128 saves).

Millbrook returns seven starters from the team that made runs to the Conference 21 West final and 4A West Region quarterfinals after going only 4-12 during the regular season.

One of those is Nikki Justice, a first team All-Conference 21 West selection who led the Pioneers with 10 goals and four assists last season. Millbrook coach Matt Cottino said he might be looking to play Justice on defense at the season’s outset, though.

“I know she played a little bit of defense on her club team, and at the end of last year due to injuries we had to move her back to defense,” Cottino said. “I thought she did a great job shutting down Emily Denton in the conference game.

“[Defense is] kind of something she approached me about, and I think she would do well there. We can start her there, and if we need help [offensively] we can always move her up.”

Midfielder Evie Esslinger (eight goals) will be counted on to lead the way in scoring, and Cottino said Hannah Amos and Rachel Keeler also should help.

As for Woodgrove, the Wolverines should still be formidable. In its two scrimmages, Woodgrove beat James Wood 6-0 and Harrisonburg 2-0.

Kilmer noted that James Wood was missing some of its players in the Woodgrove scrimmage (Padgett did not play), and Kilmer said the Wolverines did not have a discernible advantage against the Blue Streaks. He also pointed out the fact only so much can be gleaned from scrimmages.

“You play everyone and you try different things,” Kilmer said. “You don’t know if Woodgrove specifically went after it to send a message [against James Wood].”

In Group 2A, Clarke County will be under the guidance of first-year coach Louis Taylor, the boys’ JV coach last year. (Note: It was reported on Feb. 10 when Taylor was first hired that he won four New York state championships in travel soccer. In interviews for this story, Taylor clarified what he said in his earlier interview and stated that none of these were state cup championships. Taylor said that he won four large invitational tournaments that he considered to be state championships because they involved many of the top teams in the state. Also, he said only the first title came in New York with LaGrange — Under-10, in 1989. He said the other three came from 1991-93 at a tournament in Springfield, Va., with the Chantilly Stars with Under-12 and Under-14 teams.)

Taylor inherits a team with plenty of offensive firepower and some strong defensive pieces. Midfielder/forward Danielle Toone (32 goals, area-best 25 assists) and midfielder Sydney Staples (13 goals, 10 assists) were each first team Group 2A all-state selections last year.

Clarke County boasts strong players on the defensive end as well. Rachel Brown was a first team all-state defender, and goalkeeper Bristen Broy led all area public school players with eight shutouts last year while making 216 saves. Cameron Sowers should also play a big role as a center defender.

As always, Clarke County will be tested in Conference 35 by George Mason, which has won nine consecutive state championships.

The following is a glance at each area team:

Handley

Coach: John Lynch, seventh year.

Last year: 11-4-2 (6-1-1 Northwestern District); Northwestern District champions; lost to Woodgrove in Conference 21 semifinals.

Key losses: Ruthie Rosenfeld, Rachel Levinson, Katie Nerangis, Megan Gaynor, Olivia DeArment, Olivia DeChristopher, Morgan Grove, Mikayla Duffy, Elisa Agustin.

Top returners: Kara Johnson, Sr., M; Julia Ricci, Jr. F; Hailey Burke, Jr., D; Natalie DeArment, Sr., F; Sarah Snow, Sr., D; Miriam Trejo-Santander, Sr., F; Deyly Orellana, Sr., M; Amanda Kesler, Jr., GK.

Top newcomers: Emma Ricci, Fr., F; Helen Skaarland, Sr., F; Kathryn Ellington, Jr., M.

Lynch’s outlook: “Having that crop of new players to varsity, they’ve all got something to prove. Last year, we had that strong senior presence where we kind of knew we were solid, we kind of knew who the consistent core of players were. This year we’re much more competitive, we’re much more eager to prove ourselves to earn our spot, to get onto the field, because it can literally change at any point in time. With a couple of exceptions, pretty much everyone in the team is pretty even, so they’re all fighting for spots. That competitive environment is going to get the most out of our players.”

First game: Tuesday at Riverside, 7:15 p.m.

Sherando

Coach: Rob Kilmer, 18th year.

Last year: 7-5-4 (5-1-2 Northwestern District); lost to Millbrook in Conference 21 West first round.

Key losses: Olivia Elliott, Dreaya Somerville, Melida Berrios, Alex Snapp.

Top returners: Megan Triplett, Sr., F; Kara Hendren, So., GK; Lauren Heskett, Jr., D; Sydney Hunter, So., F; Caroline Hudson, Jr., M; Hannah Li, Sr. D; Catherine Price, Sr. M; Alexa Fairis, Jr. D; Taylor Fogarty, Sr. M; Jessica Poole, So. M.

Top newcomers: Anna Buonocore, Fr., M; Claire Lesman, Jr., M; Ali Baltimore, Fr., M; Olivia Engle, So., D; Abigail Dodson, Fr., M; Hailey Metzger, Jr., M; Emily Blanton, Fr., M.

Kilmer’s outlook: “I think we’re balanced all across the field. It’s a much faster group. Kara’s a tremendous goalie and provides great leadership. Sydney has come a long way. She’s involved with [the Olympic Development Program] now, and she’s put in a tremendous amount of work on her game. She’s stepped up to the next level.”

First game: Tuesday at Tuscarora, 6 p.m.

James Wood

Coach: Jim Carden, ninth year.

Last year: 9-7-1 (5-2-1 Northwestern District); lost to Millbrook in Conference 21 West semifinals.

Key losses: Emily Denton, Adrienne Thomas, Breanna Heustis, Makayla Gloyd, Saydie Arnette, Kennedy Green.

Top returners: Katie Padgett, So., F; Neary Casebolt, Sr., F/D; Chloe White, Sr., M/D; Hannah Moszak, Sr., F/M; Abby Duck, Jr., M; Kate High, Jr., M/F; Olivia Pettler, Jr., F/M; Claire Beccaccio, So., GK; Lauren Russell, So., D; Madison Myers, So., M; Abbey Esparza, Jr., D; Yeakley Pullen, So., M/D.

Top newcomers: Kaylah Gankiewiecz, Fr., M/F; Audrey Hottle, Fr., D; Hannah Given, So., M/F; Hailey Given, So., D.

Carden’s outlook: “We’re going to look to improve every game. If we do that, then at the end I think we’ll be playing well, I hope. We’ve got some young kids, and I’m looking forward to working with them. They have passion and they’re willing to learn. They’re going to make their mistakes, but hopefully they’ll learn from them. Our chemistry is very good. Madison Myers, Abby Duck and Kate High should really help us in the midfield.”

First game: Friday at Clarke County, 7 p.m.

Millbrook

Coach: Matt Cottino, fourth year.

Last year: 7-14 (2-6 Northwestern District); lost to Loudoun County in 4A West Region quarterfinals.

Key losses: Lauren Reed, Lakin Nordin, Beth Hagenbuch, Brooke Goodwin, Megan Clowser, Kelsey Riley (out with torn ACL).

Top returners: Nikki Justice, Jr., D/F; Indigo Kupka, Jr., GK; Hannah Amos, Jr., F; Kristen Hunt, Sr., M; Evie Esslinger, So., M; Rachel Keeler, So., M; Nicole Taylor, Sr., D; Carrington Nordin, Jr., D; Caitlyn Lawson, So., M; Annika Devart, Jr., D; Hilary Share, So., M.

Top newcomers: Ali Devart, So., D; Mackenzie Gaddy, So., M; Meredith Sigler, Jr., M., Ashleigh Nail, Fr., D; Macie Pilson, So., D; Elizabeth Loveland, Fr., D; Mikaela Henning, Fr., M; Lily Treiber, Sr., M.

Cottino’s outlook: “We’re a very young team, but we definitely have the depth and talent to be successful. I think the way we finished last year is going to motivate us to have a great start to this year. I think Kristen Hunt is going to be our main center mid that we’re going to be looking for to help build the attack. She had a shoulder injury that kept her out the second half of last year. Indigo worked really hard in the offseason, and I think she’s come a long way from last year.”

Next game: Tuesday vs. Turner Ashby, 7 p.m.

Clarke County

Coach: Louis Taylor, first year.

Last year: 16-5 (12-2 Bull Run District); lost to Goochland in 2A East Region semifinals.

Key losses: Hannah Ravenscoft, Lauren Allen.

Top returners: Danielle Toone, Jr., M/F; Bristen Broy, So., GK; Sydney Staples, Jr., M/F; Rachel Brown, Jr., D/M; Maeve Lyman (6 goals), So. M/F; Cameron Sowers, So., D; Vivian Hurtado (8 goals), Jr., M; Alyssa Clough, Sr., M/D.

Top newcomers: Meredith Place, Sr., M/D.

Taylor’s outlook: “Right now, I think we’re strong offensively, and if we can shore up the defense I think we’ll have a very successful season. So far this team is getting along well, and that’s always a good thing. The older ones are helping the younger ones, which is always good from a coaching standpoint when you have somebody else helping you get it done.”

First game: Friday vs. James Wood, 7 p.m.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1