Girls’ Soccer: What to Watch for

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

TEAMS TO WATCH

-- Stone Bridge (16-1-1 last season)

-- Broad Run (20-3)

-- Loudoun County (12-2)

-- Briar Woods (4-9-1)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

-- F Krysti Rodriguez, Jr., Stone Bridge: An All-Met last season, Rodriguez returns after scoring 15 goals for the Bulldogs, seven of them game winners.

-- F Kelly Evans, Jr., Broad Run: Evans, who has been on varsity since her freshman season, scored two goals in a 5-1 victory over Loudoun Valley on March 14.

-- MF Holly King, Jr., Broad Run: King returns to the midfield after tallying 10 goals and four assists en route to a first-team All-District selection last year.

-- GK Caitlin Hunter, Jr., Broad Run: Hunter, an honorable mention All-Met last season, is one of eight promising juniors on a team that has just two seniors.

-- F Julianne Rickers, Sr., Loudoun County: The University of Miami-bound scoring threat poured in 21 goals last season.

-- GK Melissa Mailley, Sr., Briar Woods: Mailley, a returning All-Region selection, has orally committed to play at George Mason.

-- D/MF Brea Hewitt, Jr., Briar Woods: Hewitt, a first-team All-District selection the past two seasons, is a versatile player.

-- D Aly Gazarek, Sr., Freedom-South Riding: The South Florida-bound senior is the strength of the Eagles’ defense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

-- May 5, Stone Bridge at Broad Run, 6 p.m.

Adding to the intensity of this match between the Bulldogs (who play in the Virginia AAA Liberty District) and Spartans (AA Dulles District) is that Stone Bridge Coach Rae Ann Taylor’s daughters — Jenny and Kathy — play at Broad Run.

-- April 18, Loudoun County at Heritage, 7:30 p.m.

Heritage returns 12 players and has added a few talented freshmen. In a 2-0 victory over Loudoun Valley on March 17, Heritage got goals from Jessica Haley and Kaitlin Thomas, while Lauren Furtner earned the shutout as goalie. All three are freshmen. They also meet May 13 at Loudoun County.

-- April 4, Briar Woods at Freedom-South Riding, 7:30 p.m.

This matchup pits two of Loudoun’s top stars in Briar Woods goalkeeper Melissa Mailley (George Mason) and Freedom defender Aly Gazarek (South Florida). They also square off April 29 at Briar Woods.

— B.J. KOUBAROULIS

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks