Lady Blues committed to growth

RICHLANDS, Va. — The girls soccer program at Richlands High School has not been around long, but last season it experienced a growth spurt. The Tornado finished in the middle of the Southwest District pack and advanced to the Region IV tournament for the first time.

Head coach LaRhonda Lindsey has been there for each of the first three seasons. The most recent one made her very proud.

“I thought we took another step for Richlands soccer by going to regions last year,” Lindsey said. “We were just happy that we got there and like I said, another step for Richlands soccer.”

The newfound success was a result of an increased commitment during the offseason. That commitment carried over as the Tornado strived to be ready for 2010.

“We went to camp last summer and we had some girls doing some other things like cross country and basketball. So they’ve stayed conditioned,” Lindsey said. “I think some of them played indoor. But none of our girls play travel. We’re too remote. We don’t have that going on, but we’re pretty conditioned.”

The lack of a travel team is currently the main thing that is keeping Richlands from progressing into the upper echelon in the Southwest District.

“Where we live, it’s just very hard,” Lindsey said. “Graham can just go to the West Virginia leagues and Abingdon plays in a lot of the Tennessee leagues and Bristol and that area. Unless our kids are going to drive two and three hours a day, it’s going to be very difficult for them.”

But the players have done what they could.

“Having them go to camp is a big step,” Lindsey said. “We’ve been able to go to camp for two years. The girls are looking forward to the program and I think kids that weren’t doing anything got out and kept running and playing some pick-up here and there.”

The Tornado last 12 seniors to graduation, leaving them with a young group this season.

“Losing 12 hit us big,” Lindsey said. “We’re young, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re inexperienced this year. We only have one player that is brand-new to the sport this year. Some seasons we’ve had 10. That one girl that’s new to the sport is an athlete and she is working very hard.”

At the time of the interview, Lindsey had not decided on a base formation, although she did say they would switch between a 4-4-2 and a 3-4-3 with an emphasis on defense.

Junior Brittany Dye will get the start in goal, with freshman Hannah Hearl providing backup.

“(Dye) took over last year after Katie Lindsey was injured and each game she improved and gotten better and better,” Lindsey said. “She’s gone to camp as well and is working hard.”

The defense will be keyed by junior Nicole Davis, senior Sandy Sahyouni and junior Kaitlyn Keen. Those three will be charged with the task of slowing down the district’s high-powered offenses.

“I feel like that’s probably our weak area and that’s where we need to work,” Lindsey said. “As always, Richlands soccer defense has worked very hard during a game. The stress is always put on them and it will continue that way.”

Seniors Kirby Moir and Rani Ratliff and junior Annie Forrest will comprise the heart of the midfield with freshmen McKenley Davis and Maggie Lindsey sharing time in the fourth spot. This more experienced group will be expected to accent the defensive effort.

“The midfield is probably the strongest area on our field,” Lindsey said. “So they probably will be dropping back and helping.”

Freshman Cassidy Richardson and senior Christina Eads will get the nods at forward. The pairing will allow a more experienced player to teach the ins and outs of the position to a younger talented one.

“Christina is a responsible player,” Lindsey said. “She’s always where she needs to be and can read the field well. I’m sure she will share some of her knowledge.

“(Richardson) also started in varsity basketball this year as a freshman. So she’s a strong athlete.”

Sophomore Crystal Blankenship will also see some time at striker.

This season, Lindsey expects the Southwest District to be business as usual.

“Again, Graham and Abingdon will be at the top battling it out,” she said. “Tazewell right there after that and I’d say Carroll is falling in there with Tazewell. Then you’ve got Marion, they always field a pretty good team. And then you’ve got Grundy coming in this year with a brand-new team. I’m sure they’ll see their struggles just as we have had.”

While the Golden Wave is brand-new, the Tornado is looking to go up another rung on the ladder in their fourth season.

“I certainly we hope we could move up a notch,” she said. “I don’t see us in the top three, but I would like to see us at 5. If we set our hopes, we can move up a little bit.”

Fifth place seems like a modest goal. But Richlands lacks many of the advantages enjoyed by the Southwest District’s heavyweights. They also lack the time those teams have taken to get where they are.

“We’ve got a long way to go for soccer in Richlands,” Lindsey said. “But I do feel that considering this is our fourth year, that we’ve grown exactly as I would have thought. I’m pleased with our growth.

“We’ve started on the bottom and moved up and in three years made it to regionals and that was about as good as we could get with the lack of travel and year-round soccer here.”

— Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com

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