Lady Wildcats One Win Away From Matching Last Year's Record

With the season halfway over for the Centreville High School Wildcats Girls Soccer team, the team is only one win away from matching last year’s win total (eight). Undefeated in their six games thus far, head coach Gary Malebranche’s Wildcats are winning convincingly, outscoring their opponents 26-2.

Centreville finished 8-4-2 (2-2-1 in district play) last season, but lost to Robinson in the Concorde District quarter-final game. Looking to exorcise the demons of last year’s district tournament loss, the team has already defeated Robinson once this season in their lone matchup, winning 2-0 in late March.

This year’s Wildcat team is extremely talented and has the depth to make a strong post-season run to the state tournament. According to Malebranche, 12 of the team’s 19 players listed on the roster are being recruited by colleges and are likely to play at the collegiate level. Already for the Wildcats, five seniors have committed to play collegiate soccer next spring: Taylor Avery (College of Charleston), Katie O’Donnell (University of North Carolina-Wilmington), Isabel Chang (James Madison University), Mari Marotta (Bridgewater College) and Sarah Karlick (University of Mary Washington).

In addition to Centreville’s seven members of its senior class, one junior, seven sophomores and four freshmen comprise the team’s roster.

Despite losing Virginia’s 2009 & 2010 Gatorade Player of the Year, Jenna Richmond, the Wildcats have transitioned well. Richmond, who is currently a freshman on UCLA’s soccer team, shattered nearly every Centreville soccer record, and was the nation’s consensus No.1 soccer recruit last season. In addition to the departure of Richmond, the Wildcats are without 2010 Honorable Mention All-Concorde players Susie Lesniewski and Molly MacDonnell.

Isabel Chang has become as one of the Concorde District’s most dangerous offensive threats this year. The senior earned Honorable Mention All-Concorde honors last season. In Centreville’s seven games this year, Chang has scored a goal in each. Currently, Chang is listed as fifth overall in the region in goals scored this season according to the Washington Post.

Mari Marotta is emerging as one Centreville’s most consistent source of goals. Like Chang, Marotta’s offensive spark has played a key role in the team’s undefeated start. She ranks tied for fifth place in the Concorde district with three goals on the season.

Sophomore Alex Meyers headlines one of the areas most talented groups of sophomores. Myers had an impressive freshman campaign last season and was named 1st Team All-Concorde District.

“Alex is a dynamic player who also has a great skill set and very good leadership qualities,” said Malebranche.

“We’re expecting continued improvement. [Last year] we lost three seniors so we need our sophomore class to continue step up and fill the void that has been left by Jenna, Molly and Susie,” Malebranche said.

Sophomores Hayley Yow and Clara Logsdon will also look to build on their success last year which earned the two 2nd Team All-Concorde District honors.

“Overall, our team chemistry is very good. Everyone gets along and there are so many great personalities. They’re all very coachable and everyone has a great time,” said Melebranche.  

Centreville looks to extend their winning streak to eight games Thursday when they travel to Herndon.