BY CHRIS HARRIS Richmond Times-Dispatch Players bypass academy for school
Midlothian’s Finlay Wyatt wasn’t the only player to walk away from the soccer academy circuit this season to play for his high school team. Twenty-two Central Region athletes skipped either the Kickers or Strikers U16 and U18 clubs to be with their high school teammates, including Michael Kibler of Deep Run.
Kibler, an all-state selection a season ago, and teammate Timmy Pedrazzi are members of the Strikers U18 team. Kibler has helped the Wildcats to a No. 2 ranking in the T-D Top 10.
Thomas Dale, which stumbled out the gate with a loss to Colonial Heights on March 21 before shutting out Dinwiddie on Tuesday, has four players from the Kickers Academy. The Knights still are awaiting the return of Evan and VaughanFowler, who will join them later this month.
“Missing these players gives opportunities for other players to show what they can do,” said Thomas Dale coach Mark Fowler. “But, obviously, we’ll be stronger with those additions because they’re quality players.”
Defense As a Winning Formula
Shutouts are becoming the norm for the region’s top teams. Midlothian, Deep Run and Cosby, the top three teams, respectively, in the rankings, have allowed just two goals.
The Titans allowed one goal in a loss to the Trojans on March 13, and the Wildcats allowed a goal in their loss to Patrick Henry of Roanoke on March 12. Neither Cosby nor Deep Run has been scored upon since.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mills Godwin has 31 goals this season after beating Thomas Jefferson 7-0 on Tuesday. Cosby has 23 goals.