By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, DigitalSports.com
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Westfield reached the Virginia AAA semifinals last season and was runner-up in the Northern Region. The last time the Bulldogs barked that loudly in the playoffs, they struggled to make a wimper the following season. After winning the regional title in 2006, they failed to reach the regional tournament in 2007.
“A couple years ago, that’s something we didn’t do after coming off a successful year,” 10th-year Westfield coach Terri Towle said. “I want to put a couple back-to-back seasons in a row. Once you get in that regional tournament anything can happen. The only time we won that regional tournament, we were a No. 4 seed. Getting in there, good things can happen.
“But a loss in that district tournament and you’re out. You have one bad day and — after a whole season of work — it can keep you out.”
The Bulldogs (20-5) graduated eight seniors, including first-team all-region midfielder Maddy Curry, second-team all-region midfielder Kat Kendrick and two-year starting goalkeeper Nicole Ficarra.
Towle will look to returning senior starters Molly Gift, Kelsey Grainer and Stephanie Poppe to build on the momentum gained from last season’s run to Virginia Beach.
“Those three girls had a lot of playing time last year,” Towle said. “Now they need to step up into more of a leadership role, be more vocal, take charge and be as consistent as they were last year.
“Those three kids got better and better as the season went on. We’re hoping they pick up there.”
Westfield’s out-of-conference schedule includes Langley, Madison, Jefferson, Yorktown, Annandale and Fairfax.
Chantilly (13-8-1) finished runner-up last year in the district tournament, but graduated 11 seniors, including second-team all-region defender Kellie McDonald.
Oakton (10-7-1) fell to South County on strokes in the first round of the regional tournament. But despite graduating 10 seniors, have 11 on its roster this year. The Cougars graduate all-district midfielder Danielle Filliponi (Georgetown), first-team all-region midfielder Pilar Lopez-Gomez and goalkeeper Megan McHie.
First-year Oakton coach Kate Ruch expects significant contribution from two of her most-experienced returners, senior center midfielder Erin Kurle, in her fourth varsity season, and third-year varsity member, senior right wing Lauren Mathieu.
Also, sophomore Jackie Rupp will move from defender to forward and is projected among the Cougars’ leading scorers.
“She just has a knack for goal,” Ruch said. “She causes trouble for defenses and they have trouble shutting her down.”
Centreville senior midfielder Haili Hartman headlines other returning stars in the Concorde.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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