The Centreville High girls' soccer team is coming off a strong 2010 season which ended in extreme disappointment when the Wildcats, who were among the best teams in the Northern Region, did not qualify for the 16-team region tournament as a result of a first round Concorde District playoff loss to Robinson.
The Concorde had an overflow of exceptional teams last year, including Robinson, Chantilly, Oakton and Westfield. Only four teams from each of the four districts within the region qualified for the region tournament. As a result, one outstanding team from the Concorde was assured of not qualifying, and that turned out to be the Wildcats, who finished the season with an 8-4-2 overall record.
But one can be assured that this year's Centreville team, under head coach Gary Malebranche, will once again give it their best shot at having another successful regular season and do everything they can to ultimately qualify for regionals.
Centreville has gotten off to a torrid start this season. Going into this week, the Wildcats were 6-0 and had outscored their opponents 18 to 2.
"We have gotten off to a nice start and beaten some quality opponents," said Malebranche. "We haven't played up to our potential yet, so I am looking forward to the rest of the season and excited to see the girls continue their improvement, both individually and as a team."
Last year, Centreville had the best player in the region in senior forward Jenna Richmond. She was one of three Wildcat players, the others being midfielder Alex Myers and goalie Ayana Teran, to earn First Team All-Concorde District accolades.
Coach Malebranche said numerous players on this year's team have played outstanding soccer thus far.
"Truthfully, it would be very difficult to single out any players as the key to the start of our season," he said. "So far each game, different players have contributed and made a significant impact. From top to bottom this is just a very talented, coachable group of girls that do not like to lose. So it really has been a group effort."
<b>CENTREVILLE</b> opened the season with an impressive 4-1 win at South County on March 14. Three days later, the Wildcats won at Annandale, 4-1. Next, in their third straight road game to start the season, Centreville bested district opponent Oakton, 1-0, in a contest played on March 22.
The Wildcats played their first home game of the season on March 24 versus McLean and came away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Highlanders. And in their next game, they handed visiting district rival Robinson, the team that ended the Wildcats' season last year, a 2-0 loss on March 28. That was followed two days later with a 5-0 home win over the Lee Lancers.
Centreville, which was scheduled to host Marshall earlier this week on Tuesday, April 5, is scheduled to travel to Herndon High on Thursday night, April 7 for a district meeting against the Hornets at 7.
Members of this year's Centreville team are: senior Taylor Avery, freshmen Katie Blumer, senior Isabel Chang, sophomore Tori Collar, senior Danielle Dull, sophomore Lindsay Egbers, senior Kristen Fadel, freshmen Ashley Forbes, freshmen Baylee Gillmore, freshmen Jenna Green, senior Sarah Karlik, sophomore Adrienne Lewis, sophomore Clara Logsdon, senior Mari Marotta, sophomore Alexandra Myers, senior Katie O'Donnell, junior Kayley Shomers, sophomore Stephanie Yoon, and sophomore Haley Yow.