The Woodrow Wilson girls soccer team started the 2021 season hoping to have a good year, but there were question marks.
Young players, new schemes and a brutal schedule were all huge factors to overcome last year.
Although the road was quite bumpy at times, the Flying Eagles weathered the storms to win the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 title.
“That was a great group of girls. We changed our formations and tried a few different things, so it take a little bit of learning,” Woodrow Wilson head coach Julie Agnor said. “Some of them succeeded and some of the failed, but in the end, it really did come together.”
Starting last season with a strong group of incoming freshman, the teams ability to gel as a cohesive unit was a key factor to its success according to their coach.
“When you have (incoming) freshman along with juniors and seniors that are seasoned and the freshman are really, really strong, the blend was much smoother than I thought it would be. I was really proud of them,” Agnor said.
This season it is fair to say that hope has turned into expectation.
Having made it to the regional last year before falling to eventual state champion, George Washington, the Flying Eagles want to build on that momentum and crash the state tournament party.
“We lost four seniors, but the remaining core is very, very strong. We have picked up a few freshman that are really good as well,” Agnor said. “This group of girls has also played travel together, so their should be a natural mesh.”
Woodrow Wilson clearly has the components for success with dynamic strikers, solid defenders and an experienced keeper.
The top scoring threats for the Flying Eagles are sophomore Mya Wooton and senior Sophia Hall.
“They are my two in the middle they hold down our midfield. They really make things happen and shared the goals last year. I think they both had about eight apiece,” Agnor said. “They are very solid with each other and they have a great drive. Both of them really push the team to be better.”
The scoring for Woodrow Wilson was also bolstered by the emergence of Ama Ackon-Annan who Agnor feels can have an even bigger season this year as a junior.
“Ama has been kind of a surprise,” Agnor said. “It took her a little time to score some goals, but now that she has figured out how to do it, she has been more accurate. The drive is definitely there and she is really fast.”
Defensively, the Flying Eagles return a strong group of experienced players to hold down the back line.
“My back line consists on the outside of Meredith Hall, but we have an opening on the other side. That was a position held by two senior girls last year,” Agnor explained. “I am looking to see who will step up and fill that position.”
The two defenders in the middle will be junior Kyndall Dooley and senior Sydney Vaught. In the middle of them sits another senior, Maddy Lanna.
“They are very, very strong. They work well together and communicate well with each other,” Agnor said.
Making Woodrow Wilson even more difficult to score against this year will be the return of veteran keeper, Ally Arthur.
“Ally is back as a third-year starter in goal. She was named honorable mention all-state and she is phenomenal,” Agnor said. “She has the height and she has the skills needed to be a strong keeper. She is not afraid and she moves well. For her height, she also goes down really well and covers up the ball very naturally.”
Agnor could also get a boost from a pair of freshman, London Baker and Mia Seiter.
“They have played with these girls for a long time,” Agnor said. “Over the summer they have been a little intimidated, so we will see how they adjust this year.”
Just like last year, the schedule for Woodrow Wilson will be challenging to say the least. The Flying Eagles will play sectional foes, Oak Hill, Greenbrier East and Princeton twice as well as a road trip to George Washington and state tournament semifinalist Cabell Midland.
Home tilts will include Hurricane, Huntington. state runner-up Wheeling Park and Washington.
“It seems those teams just always wants to play, which is good,” Agnor said. “It pushes our girls to want to play harder and prepares us for the tournament.
Woodrow Wilson opens the season Aug. 19 when it hosts Ripley.
