Gallery by Heather Belcher
One of the greatest benefits from playing sports are the life lessons which are learned through competition.
A crucial lesson learned for athletes and coaches during competition is how to deal with unforeseen circumstances and problems that can quickly arise from out of nowhere.
That is the exact scenario the Beckley girls soccer team finds itself in the midst of this season.
Already smarting from graduation taking the bulk of the midfielders, all-state midfielder Mya Wooton will pass on her junior season to play travel soccer in North Carolina.
“This year is going to be a very interesting year as far as I graduated my whole center line basically. Replacing center of the field players is very challenging,” Beckley head girls soccer coach Julie Agnor said. “I do feel like I have several girls that are more than capable of stepping up for us and filling the places we are missing, but there are some big shoes to fill.”
Agnor admitted this season will clearly be a work in progress as a result of the changes her team has encountered. On a positive note however, the Flying Eagles have embraced the challenge and have hit the ground running.
“I have known for years how I am going to play going into the season. Honestly, right now, I am not sure how we will play. I have changed our formation to a diamond center midfield where we will be a little tighter in the midfield. That should create some havoc up the center.” Agnor said. “I do feel like the team is kind of excited actually. My seniors are excited to be out here and my juniors have stepped up.”
Agnor has also made a change that should have a big impact in the attacking third of the field.
“This year we are going to play with two strikers. Last year we played with one,” Agnor said. “Navaiah Simmons was ruled ineligible to play last year after moving to Beckley, but she is eligible this year. Vai and Ama (Ackon-Annan) are going to be my strikers. They are really quick to score and I am looking forward to that combination.”
Ackon-Annan piled up 19 goals last year and had six assists in her junior season, while Simmons was a prolific goal scorer for Robert C. Byrd two years ago as a sophomore.
The midfield will be bolstered by the return of volleyball standout Abby Dillon who did not play last year as a sophomore.
“Abby is back after not playing for a little while, so she is working to get back in the groove,” Agnor said.
Beckley will also have some experienced defenders on the back line. Injuries have thrown things into a bit of a flux early, but it has created opportunities for some younger players.
“Kyndall Dooley is returning after an injury last year, but we may have a senior and a freshman heading up the back line,” Agnor said.
Agnor will also have to replace one of the top goalkeepers in the state in Ally Arthur who has moved on to play for Glenville State University. Arthur was a rock for three years between the posts, but the veteran coach feels like she has a good one to replace her three-year standout.
The question will be can she get her to fall in the love with the position.
“Mia Seiter is a very talented goalkeeper, but she is not convinced that she wants to do it. That is the struggle right now,” Agnor said. “Ally was a little reluctant at first as well and she turned out to be something special. Mia will be the same way. Once she owns it, she will own it. I am also training three other girls besides Mia, just to see what we can come up with.”
With opportunity knocking all over the field, Agnor says she has several freshman coming up that are looking good in the early going.
“I have a few freshman that I feel will step up for us like Jocelyn Lilly and Carly Fisher,” Agnor said. “They are very talented young ladies. They have played mostly with our younger girls, but they both are pretty strong.”
The two-time defending sectional champions will have a target on their backs for sure this season and will see some important sectional opponents early in the season.
“The first month is going to be a little rough, which will be tough because we hit our sectional opponents the second week of the season. We will give it our all and we may not the look the same at the end of the season as we do in the beginning,” Agnor said. “We will have to earn it this year and it is up to the girls. I am going to put the best team that I can on the field, but I am really excited. It is nice to have some fresh blood with some different opportunities.”
