FLEMING ISLAND - Clay High girls soccer coach Stephanie Waugh has a region final finish on her resume from last year, Orange Park has a pair of dynamic scoring machines, Fleming Island has a wealth of returning talent, Middleburg has "an Italian" just like Will Ferrell's Kicking and Screaming team, and Ridgeview has a legit former scoring superstar in both high school and college as area teams ramp up for the upcoming season with plenty of optimism.
"The rivalry of playing county teams that are all in the same district makes preparation more exciting," said Waugh, who brings back just half of a scoring duo; junior Brook Bunton (36 goals, 17 assists) and senior Kirra Dodson (19 goals), that produced a 14-3-1 season and a region final against Tallahassee Lincoln, who was able to defeat Clay twice in key games at the end of the season. "Brooke has decided to play on her Elite team which leaves Kirra as our top scoring returner. We have girls here that can put up goals, but Brooke was special."
One of Waugh's top returners is probably her own daughter, sophomore Tatum Waugh, who was pushed into some scoring scenarios last year to fortify the Bunton/Dodson duo.
"We lose a good squad of seniors; Faith Espino, Erika Martinez, Kaygen Williamson, Danica Nguyen, our goalie Shelby Mcclain, and our second goalie Ianna Thibodeaux," said Waugh. "I think you could call us in rebuild mode, but we have some good young faces on the field right now; Lucy Nosse, Kloe Burke, Kate Wilkening, and also senior Lainey Winkler."
Also in the mix, and very familiar with Waugh and the Clay squad, is Orange Park, who was in the same district last year and has coach Kyle Valero looking to lean on top scorer Ryanne Robinson and younger sister Rylynee for one more year to replicate their own 14-3 record with two playoff appearances; losses to Beachside and Clay.
The Robinson siblings, senior Ryanne and junior Rylynee, put up 56 goals together (30 Ryanne, 26 Rylynne) to give Orange Park a 13-1 regular season slate before the two playoff losses. Valero also returns a solid junior goalie in Anna Wages who had 51 saves last year.
So, in 2024, the district is totally shaken up with Fleming Island, Ridgeview, and Middleburg joining the mix with Columbia as the lone outsider.
With all three teams highlighted by former great players at the top spots; Ridgeview with Autumn Woodard replacing long-time coach Trevor Clark, Fleming Island with Taylor Berry and Mikki Olsen, and Middleburg with Joy Rosano, all top-tier players in their high school days with Rosano a Final Four player at Fleming Island in her day.
Woodard being the new girl on the block brings a stellar college career at Louisiana Tech University which included a 2019 Louisiana Player of the Year, a First Team All-Conference USA selection, and a First Team All-Louisiana selection. Woodard was also a freshman at South Florida during an NCAA tournament second-round finish.
At Ridgeview, Woodard was named most valuable forward four years in a row with 102 goals and 26 assists.
At Fleming Island, Berry and Olson have a wealth of returning talent with Taylor Tamares out of district 3-6A last year with powerhouse Ponte Vedra, who knocked Fleming Island out of region semifinals en route to the 6A state title.
"We had a good run last year with a 7-8-3 record in a tough district and I think our groundwork has been able to set a standard for this year in 5A," said Berry. "Taylor Tamares was one of our lead scorers and is now at Jacksonville University, but we have Sophia Pontieri back (14 goals) and Rylie Gardner (7 goals) as our main attackers with a good group of returners that can score goals," said Berry. "Jenna Moreland, a defensive specialist last year, will be a four-year starter and can play anywhere; Macie Opp will come out of goal and be somewhere on the field to give us more senior leaders."
For Berry, the talent pool gets deeper with flag football ace Emily Poucher, a near six-footer in goal, and sophomore Hayley Sakowski ready to contribute.
"Macie Opp out of goal could be a goal scorer for us," said Berry.
Berry also named senior Emma Rucker as a key returner with senior Aubrey Taylor two more seniors on the field.
At Middleburg, Rosano took over the Middleburg team last year and got solid results at 7-7-1, but with a district loss to Ridgeview in the quarterfinal.
"We are super hopeful for this year after a 7-7 finish last year after a bunch of three or four-win seasons here," said Rosano. "Key back is Palomo Romero and Riley Toomey who is our bulldog, bulldozer in a china shop player."
Rosano is excited about her new athletes on the field which included basketball star Ruby Owens, and an Italian exchange student, Olivia Regazzi, that we joke about in the Will Ferrell movie. She also plays goalie and so far has been impressive."
Rosano thinks Middleburg's success will come from a ball-control attack.
"We have the speed and athletes," said Rosano. "We have a lot of girls who may not have played a lot of soccer, but they are all athletes. Now it's focusing on moving the ball and finishing. We had a lot of shots last year and not finishing with goals."