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Sports

WJ's Boys and Girls Soccer Teams Enjoying Stellar Starts to the Season

Both teams are undefeated through two games.

GIRLS

With eight starters back from last year’s team that finished 13-3 and reached the Class 4A West regional semifinals, Walter Johnson girls soccer coach Liz Friedman is optimistic this season's team is poised for even greater success.

“We should be right where we were last year, if not better,” said Friedman, in her third season as the Wildcats’ head coach.

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Although Walter Johnson will have to replace defenders Alicia Dodrill and Liza Ellis, as well as goalie Jessica Goldstone, Friedman is extremely excited about her returning core of players.

Friedman said forwards Sydney Calas, Caroline Hagerty and Carly Van Wagoner will anchor the Wildcats’ offensive attack while Carina Deandreis and Emma Van Wagoner spearhead the midfield and Laura Dally, Renee Hart and Alejandra Ramos lead the defense. She is also confident in goalie Amanda Regan’s ability to help offset the loss of Goldstone.

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Walter Johnson started its season with a 1-0 win against Holy Cross last week before beating Magruder, 5-0, Tuesday.

“As long as everyone stays healthy, we should be in very good shape for this season,” Friedman said.

AT A GLANCE

HEAD COACH: Liz Friedman, third year

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 13-3

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: forward Sydney Calas, defender Laura Dally, midfielder Carina Deandreis, forward Caroline Hagerty, defender Renee Hart, defender Alejandra Ramos, goalie Amanda Regan, forward Carly Van Wagoner, midfielder Emma Van Wagoner

KEY LOSSES: defender Alicia Dodrill, defender Liza Ellis, goalie Jessica Goldstone

SCHEDULE

9/10 Richard Montgomery

9/13 @Seneca Valley

9/22 @Blair

9/27 Clarksburg

9/30 @Northwest

10/4 B-CC

10/11 @Wootton

10/13 Whitman

10/17 @Churchill

10/19 Richard Montgomery

10/25 @Damascus

BOYS

After watching his team thoroughly dominate two-time defending regional champion High Point in its season opener last week, cruising to a 5-1 victory, Walter Johnson boys soccer coach Mike Williams made a bold statement about this year’s Wilcats.

“I think this is the most talented team that not only I’ve had at WJ, but in WJ’s history,” said Williams, in his seventh season as Walter Johnson’s head coach.

The Wildcats have won 12 regional championships in their history as well as three state titles, including one under Williams in 2006.

He’s made sure to point out to his players, however, “that talent alone doesn’t win championships.”

“I’ve seen plenty of teams that have had tremendous talent, but have fallen by the wayside,” Williams said. “But what I was most impressed with against High Point was that we put out 100-percent effort for the majority of the game.”

He added, “If we can continue to do that, we’ll continue to grow as we go on.”

Junior striker/midfielder Mateo Arenas-Rivera scored three of the team’s five goals against High Point. Senior midfielder/striker Noah Sheetz-Ziegel and sophomore midfielder/defender Gabriel Vasconcelos added the others.

Sheetz-Ziegel led the Wildcats with 13 goals last season.

AT A GLANCE

HEAD COACH: Mike Williams, seventh year

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 13-3-1

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: striker/midfielder Mateo Arenas-Rivera, midfielder/defender Harrison Gibert, midfielder Gerry Madden, defender/midfielder Pierre-Alain Mensah, midfielder/striker Juan Ortiz, midfielder/striker Noah Sheetz-Ziegel, defender/midfielder George Taylor

KEY LOSSES: goalie Liam Collins, defender Daniel Spencer, forward Michael Tillman

SCHEDULE

9/13 Seneca Valley

9/22 Blair

9/27 @Clarksburg

9/30 Northwest

10/4 B-CC

10/11 @Wootton

10/13 Whitman

10/17 @Churchill

10/19 Richard Montgomery

10/25 @Damascus

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