2013 High School Girls Soccer Preview
Knights’ day With a deep and talented returning roster that won the Beach District and Eastern Region tournaments, Kellam stands as the top team in South Hampton Roads. The Knights must address the graduation of first-team all-state defender Mikayla Plansker. Riley Mahoney (Marshall) and Abby Morgan will vie for that center-back role along with midfielder Gaela Normile. Midfielder Carly Goldsborough (Old Dominion), Helene Schillo and leading scorer Alex Askew hope to bring the offense up to speed for a state title run. Coach Mario Hurdle believes the team’s biggest obstacle, though, is not wavering from the blue-collar mentality that got them so far last season.
Hawks have depth Ten seniors and seven juniors lead a Hickory team looking to become just the second Southeastern squad to win the Eastern Region title (Grassfield in 2011). The Hawks’ top seven scorers return, including dynamic midfielder Payton Ormsby (Campbell). The defense – despite first-team All-Tidewater Sierra Merkes’ graduation – remains stout with Lindsey Ferguson, Jacqueline Kim and Jessi Pinello. Keeper Vicki Fenley (Emory & Henry) and sophomore forward Kelly Coleman return.
Elsewhere in the Southeastern At Grassfield, defender Caroline Hollandsworth (Randolph-Macon) is one of two seniors expected to keep the Grizzlies fighting for a Southeastern District title. Junior Caren Cowley, up from junior varsity, will handle shot-stopping duties, while the Grizzlies could see scoring from juniors Peyton Reisch and Madeline Jackson or freshman Kylie Barnes. At Western Branch Ella Bonner is coming off a fabulous freshman season. Leading scorers Lindsay Ransome and Aneisha Federico return for King’s Fork and Deep Creek, respectively. Indian River’s Katelyn Admire (Tulsa) and Taylor Potter are back from injuries.
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