Amanda Nhek and high-scoring Patriot girls’ soccer are fired up for an encore
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Version 0 of 1. The Patriot girls’ soccer team was just finishing up another preseason practice earlier this month – or so Pioneers Coach Kelly Payne thought – when a familiar, quiet voice rose above the chatter. “Coach, we got one more,” Pioneers junior All-Met Amanda Nhek said before darting away for one last go-around through the fitness circuit the team had just completed. “I know they were all tired from doing so much cardio by running through the circuit, but when Amanda said that, not one of her teammates looked at her crazy,” Payne recalled. “They all just followed.” It’s a sense of respect that’s been two years in the making. While the explosive Nhek totaled 50 goals during the past two seasons, her teammates have also raised their level of play, spurring the Pioneers to their first Virginia Conference 8 regular season title last spring. Now, after piecing together a playoff run that ended one goal short of a state tournament appearance, the Pioneers are hungrier than ever with hopes to build on their recent success. “To be so close and not make states last year really lit a fire in us,” said Nhek, who netted 27 goals last year. “This year, we have experience and more of a target on our back, but the desire and hunger are what’s pushing us, so we’re all really excited for this season.” That much is evident in Patriot’s strong start. Entering Wednesday’s game with No. 7 Westfield, the No. 5 Pioneers outscored their opponents 11-0 with six different players finding the back of the net. Bolstered by the newfound strength generated from an offseason spent in the weight room, Nhek has used her crafty play to record two goals and two assists. “This is my 15th year as a head coach and Amanda is just one of those God-given, one-of-a-kind players,” Payne said. “She has an extraordinary drive and can play anywhere on the field, so she can adjust to any situation.” With Nhek’s rare ability often drawing extra defenders, teammates like senior forward Ashley Pennington, freshman midfielder Erin Ackerman, sophomore Amber DiOrio and junior forward Taylor Nairn have capitalized to turn Patriot into an offensive juggernaut. “Last year, we played with a lot of intensity at the end of the season and the seniors brought a lot of strength,” said Pennington, who has a team-high four goals. “Now that I’m a senior, I’ve been working to provide some of the leadership because we have a lot of talented younger players who have stepped up.” Payne expects the same influence and inspired play from goalie Cassidy Boyes, whom she said has “improved tenfold,” providing a dependable anchor on the defensive end. With that balance, the Pioneers hope to contend with the likes of top-ranked conference foe Battlefield and take off running, with Nhek at the forefront. “I give all the credit to my teammates for putting me in a position to score,” Nhek said. “It’s all about reading the game and winning the physical and mental side, and we believe we have the right group of players to do that well.” After a week off due to spring break, all teams return to action this week. . . . Stone Bridge notched its third straight victory in four games by beating Woodgrove, 4-0, on Tuesday. . . . Briar Woods defeated Herndon, 3-1, on Tuesday to remain unbeaten. The Falcons travel to No. 4 Chantilly on Thursday. 1. Battlefield (2-0) LW: 1 2. Stone Bridge (3-0-1) LW: 2 3. Broad Run (2-1) LW: 3 4. Chantilly (2-1-1) LW: 4 5. Patriot (2-0) LW: 5 6. Briar Woods (5-0) LW: 6 7. Westfield (2-0) LW: 7 8. Tuscarora (1-1) LW: 8 9. W.T. Woodson (1-1) LW: 9 10. Centreville (2-1) LW: 10 On the bubble: Forest Park (3-0-1), Robinson (1-0-1), Yorktown (3-0) Records through Tuesday. |