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MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Radford High School soccer player Maddy Denny (right) kicks the ball with fellow team leader Pip Pattison during warm-up drills.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Radford High School soccer players form a wall in the goal while getting coached and practicing penalty kick drills. "This is the first team where we don't have any one player that will be the cornerstone, but everyone is good," coach Lee Boehling said.

| Roger Gonzalez

Special to The Roanoke Times

The Radford High School girls are building quite the reputation in soccer.

After winning a state championship in 2007, the Bobcats will be looking for their second state championship in 2010 after falling just short last year.

Radford, which fell to George Mason in the Group A final, is trying to see which players step up to help the Bobcats reach their goal.

In his sixth season, coach Lee Boehling is hoping that his players continue with their goal-scoring abilities after having lost prolific scorer Mary Wiley to graduation.

Several players will replace Wiley, who scored 53 goals and now plays at Radford University.

"I think it will probably be a couple players [who replace Wiley]," Boehling said. "I do think that we have got several [players] that can balance that goal-scoring load."

The Bobcats have solid talent all around, led by Pip Pattison, who will control the midfield, and Maddy Denny controlling the back.

Boehling is counting on Pattison to also contribute on the score sheet.

Many other players have proved their scoring abilities, but Pattison will have to step up along with Lexi Denny.

With only four seniors on the squad, the Bobcats should be solid for the near future.

No one player will be the star of the team.

"This is the first team where we don't have any one player that will be the cornerstone, but everyone is good," Boehling said.

One player may emerge as the star, but after another great year in 2009, Radford thinks it has what it takes to be better now with everyone contributing.

n In Blacksburg, the Bruins should be the class of the River Ridge District as they return nine of 11 starters off last year's squad that was a penalty kick away from the state tournament.

Kaitlyn Ayares, a first team all-state performer, will lead the defense for Blacksburg.

The Bruins returns all four starters on the defense backfield. Several new players will get the chance to shine in the midfield. Kara Schmitt returns in the midfield.

In the attack, Rebecca Cornelius, who scored 18 goals a year ago and was second team all-state, will be looked upon for her goals again in 2010.

This experienced squad will focus on being on the attack under coach Travis Eschenmann.

n Nearby in Christiansburg, the Demons will rely on several seniors and two promising freshmen in order to try to catch up.

Christiansburg is led by seniors Shea English and Hollie Herndon.

Coach Perry Cox will look for English to distribute the ball to Herndon, a forward, with the hopes of creating offensive chemistry and goal-scoring chances.

Along with English in the midfield will be freshman Shannon Stuart.

Another key player alongside Herndon will be another freshman, Hannah Duff.

With four solid offensive players, another key contributor will be on the right side of the midfield.

Exchange student Sigrid Ebbesen will control the right side. A native of Norway, Ebbesen brings knowledge of the game and a different style, something Cox hopes benefits the team.

n Pulaski County, meanwhile, will look to rebound after losing several key players.

After losing seven players off last year's squad, the Cougars will play to their strength, the center midfield and forwards, with the hopes of taking a step forward.

Senior Chelsea Gusler will be the leader of the midfield, with the role of distributing the ball and controlling the tempo of the game.

Gusler will have freedom in the midfield to make things happen.

With such a young team, Pulaski will receive a boost with the return of Hannah Wade and Marlena Morrison, both forwards who lost time to injuries.

For Pulaski County to improve this year, the Cougars will have to play with patience and precision, starting with the midfield.

n It's been a crazy time in Giles.

Giles has gone through more change than any team in the area.

This season, the varsity team will have only four returning players and nine freshmen. On top of that, two all-district players from last season have decided not to play this year.

For the team to improve, the offense will have to be better, but the defense should be solid.

Giles will be relying on goalie Cassie Martin and defender Emily Ellis to eliminate their opponent's offensive chances.

Offensively, the emergence of Katy Cunningham and Elizabeth Daddazzio will be key for Giles in 2010. For the team to take a leap forward, the freshmen will need to show poise along with the veterans.

n For Floyd County, coach Liesl Narrow will look to improve on a rough 2009, when the Buffaloes finished third in the district.

Caroline Blevins will lead Floyd up front and Monica Morris will lead the back line as the only returning defender.

Two promising midfielders, Jordan Nolen and Sarah Shula, will control the center of the pitch for the Buffaloes, connecting the back line to the forwards.

Both were second team all-district as freshmen a year ago.

If the veterans can step up and lead, and if the midfield operates with Shula and Nolen, Floyd County will have a chance at a quality 2010 season.

n The Lions of Dayspring Christian Academy are building quite the program.

Dayspring Christian Academy looks to have a solid year in coach Mike Buehrer's second season.

The Lions are loaded with juniors and will look to go down the wings to find Emily Westman and Casey Miller, both promising forwards.

In the defense, Darrah Dickerson will be in goal and Sara Winter will play sweeper to anchor the back line.

After the juniors got a year under their belts last season, they will be the focal point this season for Dayspring Christian Academy. The Lions will go only as far as their juniors take them.