Girls' Soccer Outlook: Plenty of talent back in competitive Northwestern District

Handley (11-7-1 last year) graduated four all-conference players from last year’s team, which won its third straight Northwestern District title.

But the Judges bring back five all-conference selections to this year’s team.

That group is headlined by sophomore forward Julia Ricci, the Conference 21 West Player of the Year who had 22 goals and six assists. Other returning all-conference players are senior goalkeeper Amanda Kesler (first team, five shutouts) and second team selections Kendall Felix (three goals, five assists), a sophomore forward; Hailey Burke, a senior defender; and Abby Keith, a sophomore defender.

One of the teams that Handley will have to beat out for the Class 4 Northwestern District title is the team that ended its 2017 season by the score of 5-1 in the first round of the 4A West Region tournament.

Kettle Run (15-2-1 last year) returns six All-Conference 22 players, including two who joined Ricci on the 4A West Region second team. The Cougars, Liberty and Fauquier are the three Class 4 schools that have been added to the district. The Cougars kicked off the Class 4 Northwestern District season on Wednesday with an 4-2 win over James Wood.

Sherando (10-7-1 last year) dropped its season opener 3-1 to Brentsville on Tuesday, but the Warriors return eight starters and four all-conference selections.

The Warriors return their top two scorers in Alexis Fairis (12 goals, eight assists), a senior forward, and Sydney Hunter (nine goals, five assists) a junior midfielder. Both were first team all-conference selections last year.

Sherando also features second team all-conference selections in Lauren Heskett (three goals, one assist), a senior defender, and Abbie Dodson (one goal, three assists), a sophomore defender. Those two will be backed by three-year starting goalkeeper Kara Hendren, a junior who recorded four shutouts last year.

James Wood coach Jim Carden says this year’s Colonels team is the youngest he’s had in his 10 years with the team. The Colonels (8-8-1) have eight freshmen on the roster.

But James Wood (0-2 this year) does bring back some talented veterans, including the area’s top public school scorer in junior forward Katie Padgett. The first team all-conference selection scored 25 goals (five game-winners) and had 10 assists.

The Colonels have two second team all-conference selections back in the midfield. Senior Katelyn High led all public school players with 12 assists last year and added four goals.

Junior Maddie Myers had five goals and six assists last year. James Wood will have to make do without first team all-conference midfielder Kaylah Gankiewicz (10 goals, nine assists) though. The sophomore is participating with the Virginia Development Academy program in Woodbridge.

Carden said he felt his team played well against Kettle Run on Wednesday. “It was a heck of game,” he said. The Colonels cut their deficit to one goal twice in the second half.

Millbrook struggled to a 3-13 season last year, but Pioneers coach Matt Cottino says this year’s team has more depth and experience than last year’s group.

The Pioneers bring back their only all-conference player in junior midfielder/forward Evie Esslinger (team-high eight goals, one assist), and she’ll be aided by senior midfielder/forward Hannah Amos (three goals, five assists) and junior forward Rachel Keeler (four goals, one assist).

In the Bull Run District, Clarke County is coming off a year in which it went just 7-9-2.

But the Eagles started the year with a 2-1 win over James Wood, and they might have the most dynamic duo in the area in NCAA Division I signees Sydney Staples (Lehigh) and Danielle Toone (Longwood). Staples was a Class 2 all-state selection last year who had 10 goals and three assists. Toone led the Eagles with 16 goals and six assists last year and was named to the first team for the Bull Run District and Conference 35.

Clarke County lost three starters to graduation on defense, but junior defender Cameron Sowers made the Conference 35 team and the district second team year. She’ll be backed by three-year starting goalkeeper Bristen Broy. Broy led the area with 10.6 saves per game and had three shutouts last year.

As always, the Eagles will be challenged in the district by George Mason, which won its 10th straight state title last spring in Class 2.

The following is a glance at each area team.

Roster information and outlook statements are provided by coaches:

Handley

Head coach: John Lynch, 8th year.

Last season: 11-7-1 (6-1-1 Northwestern District); Northwestern District regular season champions; lost to Kettle Run in the 4A West Region first round.

Key losses: Sarah Snow, Natalie DeArment, Kara Johnson, Deyly Orellana, Miriam Trejo.

Top returning players: Amanda Kesler, Sr. GK; Emma Ricci, So. F; Hailey Burke, Sr. D; Abby Keith, So. D; Kendall Felix, So. F.

Top newcomers: Katie Painter, Jr. D; Jessica Alamo, Fr. M.

Lynch’s outlook: “This year’s team will be heavy with seniors who have been in the program for a number of years. Their leadership mixed with the energy from our new players will determine the direction our team takes this season. We are looking to build on the successes from last season and are excited to see the new matchups with Liberty, Fauquier and Kettle Run. The first few weeks of training have been competitive and the team is eager to get matches underway and see where we stand in the Northwestern District.”

First game: Thursday at Harrisonburg, 7 p.m.

Sherando

Head coach: Rob Kilmer, 19th year.

Last season: 10-7-1 (6-2 Northwestern District); lost to Handley in Conference 21 West semifinals.

Key losses: Taylor Fogarty, Kate Price, Megan Triplett, Hannah Li.

Top returning players: Anna Buonocore, So. F; Claire Lesman, Sr. M; Lauren Heskett, Sr. D; Kara Hendren, Jr. GK; Sydney Hunter, Jr. M; Ali Baltimore, So. M; Olivia Engle, Jr. M; Alexa Fairis, Sr. F; Jessica Poole, Jr. M; Abbie Dodson, So. D; Emily Blanton, So. M.

Top newcomers: Haley Byrnes, Jr. F; Julia Hunter, Fr. M; Lizzie Campbell, Fr. D; Kendall Lincoln, Fr. F; Jolie Call, So. M; Cassidy Prescott, Sr. M;

Kilmer’s outlook: “We return eight starters from last year’s team that won 10 games. With the addition of some talented new players we’re hoping to compete for a district title and a region spot.”

Next game: Tuesday at Brentsville, 7 p.m.

James Wood

Head coach: Jim Carden, 10th year.

Last season: 8-8-1 (4-3 Northwestern District); lost to Woodgrove in Conference 21 West semifinals.

Key losses: Neary Casebolt, Hannah Moszak, Chloe White, Kaylah Gankiewicz.

Top returning players: Olivia Pettler, Sr. D; Katelyn High, Sr. M; Abby Duck, Sr. M; Abby Esparza, Sr. M; Katie Padgett, Jr. F; Maddie Myers, Jr. M; Lauren Russell, Jr. M; Claire Beccaccio, Jr. GK.

Top newcomers: Sadie Kerns, Fr. GK; Abby Ensogna, Fr. F; Julia Watts, Fr. M; Sophia Pettler, Fr. M; Katelyn Mounts, Fr. F; Anna Woodson, Fr. M; Grace Hawkins, Fr. D; Maddy Milburn, Fr. M; Bailey Riggleman, So. D.

Carden’s outlook: “This is the youngest team that I’ve had at James Wood, including eight freshmen. The team has worked very hard in the preseason. It will take a little time for us to come together but I believe that we will improve with each game.”

Next game: Tuesday at Clarke County, 7 p.m.

Millbrook

Head coach: Matt Cottino, 5th year.

Last season: 3-13 (2-5 Northwestern District); lost to James Wood in Conference 21 West first round.

Key losses: Nicole Taylor, Kristen Hunt.

Top returning players: Hannah Amos, Sr. M/F; Carrington Nordin, Sr. D; Mikaela Henning, So. M; Evie Esslinger, Jr. M/F; Rachel Keeler, Jr. D; Ali Devart, Jr. M; Caitlyn Lawson, Jr. D; Mackenzie Gaddy, Jr. D; Annika Devart, Sr. D; Hilary Share, Jr. M; Kelsey Riley, Jr. D; Ashleigh Nail, So. M/D.

Top newcomers: Abigail Alvarenga, So. M; Jordan Baer, Fr. GK; Katie Douglas, Fr. F; Abigail Forrest, Fr. D; Karlie Hepner, Fr. M; Addie Hillyard, Fr. M; Lauren Rudolph, Fr. M.

Cottino’s outlook: “We are a young, dynamic team this year. The district is going to be competitive this year, so the players put in the work in the offseason to prepare for the upcoming challenges. This year we will be deeper on the bench and more experienced on the field.”

First game: Friday vs. Woodgrove, 7 p.m.

Clarke County

Head coach: Louis Taylor, 2nd year.

Last season: 7-9-2 (6-7-1 Bull Run District); lost to George Mason in Conference 35 semifinals.

Key losses: Alyssa Clough, Meredith Place, Camryn Shendow.

Top returning players: Sabrina Beach, Sr. D; Rachel Brown, Sr. D; Vivian Hurtado, Sr. M; Sydney Staples, Sr. M; Danielle Toone, Sr. M/F.; Cameron Sowers, Jr. D; Bristen Broy, Jr. GK.

Top newcomers: None mentioned.

Taylor’s outlook: “We lost three seniors last year which was three-quarters of our defense. Their contribution on and off the field will be missed. The senior lost from last year will create opportunities and competition to fill the void in 2018. This year, we have five seniors who have been major contributors throughout their time at Clarke County. Their leadership and skills will be the catalyst to the season.

“The team and coaching staff are excited for the upcoming year. The coaches expect the team to be competitive as we start our second year together. The players seem to be bonding and helping each other in practice. This is what is needed to become the best team we can be.”

Next game: Friday vs. Broadway, 7 p.m.

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